This question was fairly popular among the candidates.  In 1(a), majority of the candidates were able to state the benefits of agriculture to the economy of West African countries.  But in 1(b) most of them could not enumerate the functions of agro-service centres in the country. In 1(c), majority of the candidates were able to outline routine tractor maintenance practices.  However, most of them were unable to state the functions of three-point linkage and hydraulic lever as required in 1(d).

The expected answers include:

(b)   Functions of agro-service centres
-   Repair/maintain agricultural tools, machines and equipment
-   Supply farmers with seeds and fertilizers
-   Provide technical/extension services in agriculture to needy farmers
-   Supply of spare parts of agricultural tools, machines and equipment
-   Supply of vaccines/drugs to farmers for disease control
-   Supply farmers with agrochemicals for weed and pest control
-   Provide inputs at subsidized rates to farmers

(d)     Functions of parts of the tractor
              (i) Three – point  linkage

-    Point of attachment for coupled implements
-    Allows the raising and lowering of implements
-    Regulates the depth and variation of thrust/depth of plough according to
     soil conditions
-    Helps to maintain a constant draught/force
-    Helps in the transfer of weight to the rear wheels of the tractor

 (ii) Hydraulic lever

-   Controls the raising and lowering of implements
-   Controls lowering and holding of an implement to a pre-determined
     position
-    Operates external hydraulic equipment, such as tipping trailer and
      loaders
-    Used to control above-the-ground implements such as mowers.