Majority of the candidates were unable to:

• enumerate the roles of science and technology in animal breeding and soil science;
• list farm machinery and farm implements;
• describe how the Gunter’s chain is used;
• state the ways by which communal land tenure system and soil types affect land availability for agriculture in their country;
• mention the problems associated with drainage system on farms;
• mention the biotic factors that affect agricultural production;
• state the negative effects of continuous cropping and overgrazing on the soil;
• discuss the cultivation of maize under climatic and soil requirements, cultural practices, processing, storage and diseases;
• state the advantages and disadvantages of afforestation;
• give examples of the major groups of insect-pests;
• state the functions of vitamins, proteins and carbohydrates in the diet of farm animals;
• list viral and protozoan diseases of livestock;
• state the sanitation practices that help to prevent disease outbreak on livestock farms;
• mention the methods of improving local breeds of farm animals;
• plot demand and supply curves for eggs using the schedules provided;
• determine the equilibrium price and quantity of eggs, excess demand for eggs, excess supply of eggs;
• suggest a way by which a farmer can take advantage of the relationship between demand and supply to attain high profit;
• suggest ways of stabilizing the prices of agricultural produce in West Africa;
• list the ways by which agricultural information are disseminated to farmers in the country, and
• state the objectives of agricultural extension programmes in West Africa.

Based on the observed weaknesses, the Chief Examiners’ recommended as follow:

• Agricultural science teachers in schools should demonstrate how farm tools, implements and machines are used to students;
• Teachers should emphasize aspects of the syllabus that have to do with crop husbandry (cultivation) and crop pests;
• Teachers should demonstrate to students the plotting of demand and supply curves (graphs) as well as the use of the curves to determine equilibrium price, excess demand and excess supply.