Observation

Question 1 was the most popular among candidates.
 
     (a) Majority of the candidates were able to give reasons why non-governmental agricultural
           organizations are important in West Africa as well as state the effects of deforestation
           on the environment.
     (b) In Question 1 (b), many candidates were mentioning ‘lack of credit facilities’, ‘lack of
           storage facilities’ instead of ‘inadequate credit facilities’, ‘inadequate storage facilities’ as    
           problems of commercial agriculture; thus losing marks.

The expected answers include:

• (a)        Reasons why non-government organizations are important in agricultural

development in West Africa

• Provide social amenities in rural areas
• Provide financial assistance to farmers
• Provide farm inputs such as agrochemicals, vaccines and drugs to farmers
• Develop improved species of crops
• Develop improved breeds of livestock
• Execute agricultural development projects in West Africa
• Ensure food security in developing nations
• Provide extension services to farmers
• Train agricultural workers to improve  their productivity
• Develop improved farming systems
• Provide processing facilities
• Provide storage facilities

(b)        Problems of commercial agriculture in West Africa

• Inadequate supply of improved varieties of crops and animals
• Unfavorable land tenure system/problems of acquiring large hectares of land
• High capital investment/high cost of farm machines
• Inadequate marketing channels/surplus or wastage of farm produce/high post-harvest losses
• Poor technical know-how
• High cost of spare parts
• The use of agrochemicals can cause imbalance in the ecosystem
• Inadequate processing facilities
• Inadequate skilled manpower
• Inadequate credit facilities
• Inadequate storage facilities  
• Displacement of small scale farmers/unemployment/displacement of unskilled workers
• Unfavourable government policies
• Leads to soil erosion
• Reduces soil microbial activities
• Use of farm machines can cause environmental pollution
• Destruction of soil structure due to use of farm machines
• Problems of pests and diseases

(c)(i)    Explanation of deforestation

• Deforestation is the continuous removal of forest trees
• Indiscriminate felling of forest trees without replacing them
• Felling of forest trees for various purposes such as housing, industry and road construction
• Removal of forest trees by bush burning/natural disaster

               (ii)     Effects of deforestation on the environment

• Encourages soil erosion/flooding
• Leads to loss of organic matter, resulting in the loss of soil fertility
• Reduces the amount of rainfall in an area
• Decreases soil moisture retention/increase rate of evaporation of soil moisture
• Increases the leaching of plant nutrients
• Destroys the microclimate and warms up the environment
• Reduces wild life/fauna population in the area concerned/imbalance in the ecosystem/threat to biodiversity
• May lead to desert encroachment
• Depletes the supply of forest produce (raw materials) to industries e.g. timber
• Reduces soil microbial activities
• Leads to negative effects of climate change such as global warming