Observation

Candidates’ performance in Question 1 was above average although many of them could not state the functions of parts of the seed planter. Furthermore, many candidates listed tillage implements like plough, harrow, cultivator e.t.c. in Question 1(d) instead of crop processing machines; thus losing marks.
 
The expected answers include:

1. (a)    Reasons why government should enact laws to regulate the use of land
for agriculture
-    Encourage enterprising farmers acquire land for agriculture.
-    Ensure proper use of agricultural land
-    Prevent land fragmentation which discourages large scale farming        
-    Safeguard farmers against unreasonable eviction /land grabbing

 -    Facilitate government programmes/schemes like Green Revolution which requires large expanse of farmland
-    Reduce litigation on lands/land disputes
-    Encourage the production of certain farm produce
-    Facilitate land improvement programmes like irrigation, drainage, dams
-     Encourage commercial agriculture.
-     Encourage the acquisition of certificate of occupancy (C of O)/title deed/security of
tenure                  
 
(b)   (i)   Most appropriate type of farm power to use for tillage operations on the
cocoa farmland
-    Mechanical power  

(ii)  Reasons for using mechanical power on the cocoa farmland
-   Saves labour/makes labour available for other farm operations
-   Reduces drudgery/make tillage operation less tedious
-   Saves time/timeliness of tillage operations/faster
-   Reduces the cost of operation/cost effective
-   Reduces health hazards
-   Makes it possible to cultivate large hectares of farmland
-   More efficient

    (c)    Functions of the following parts of a seed planter
(i)    Seed tube
-   Directs seeds from the base of the hopper into the soil         

(ii)     Furrow opener
-   Digs hole in front of the seed drill into which the seeds
(iii)   Hopper
-   Contains/keeps the seeds to be planted                                
(iv)    Seed metering device
-   Regulates the dropping of seeds from the seed box/hopper into the seed tube       

(v)     Furrow wheel
-   Presses the soil to cover the seeds dropped in the hole  

      
(d)    Machines used in processing crops after harvesting
-   Thresher                               -    Combine harvester                           -   Sheller                    
-   Grinder                                -    Grain dryer                                      -   Juice extractor
-   Mixer                                  -    Press/Hydraulic press                        -   Rice huller
-   Palm kernel cracker              -   Mill/hammer mill                             -   Bailer
-   Rice polisher                         -   Decorticator                                      -   Ring macerator
-   Straw Chopper                      -   Grater                                                -   Sterilizer
-   Winnowing machine            -   Blender