Agriculture Paper 3, Nov/Dec 2015

Question 1

      

  1. Study the farm tools illustrated below and answer the questions that follow.

 

(i) Identify each of the farm tools labelled A, B and C.     [3 marks]

  1. State one use of each of the farm tools labelled A and C. [2 marks]
    (iii)      Suggest two ways of maintaining farm tools.                [2 marks]
  1. A poultry farmer has 600 laying birds. After an initially high monthly collection of eggs, the farmer observed a rapid decline in production. The farmer’s observation is as shown in the table below.

 

Study the table carefully and answer the questions that follow.

                       Egg Production Record

Month

Jan.

Feb.

March

April

May

June

July

August

Total number of eggs collected per month

16,800

17,700

16,200

13,500

11,250

9,150

9,000

8,400

(i) Determine the percentage drop in egg production from February to March. [2 marks]
(ii)  Suggest three possible causes of the rapid decline in egg  
production from April to August.  [3 marks]
(iii) State three characteristics that the farmer would use to cull the   
unproductive layers.  [3 marks]

Observation

This question was well attempted by the candidates. In 1(a)(i-iii), most of the candidates were able to identify the farm tools, state their uses and suggest ways of maintaining them. Although, most of the candidates were unable to determine the percentage drop in egg production as required in 1(b)(i), majority of them were able to suggest possible causes of rapid decline in egg production and state the characteristics that could be used to cull unproductive layers as required in 1(b)(ii-iii).

The expected answers include:

1. (b)(i)   Determination of percentage drop in egg production from February to March
Egg production for February =  17,700 eggs
Egg production for March      =   16,200 eggs
% drop in egg production       =   17,700 – 16,200   x  100            
17,700               1  =    8.47%