Agriculture Paper 2, WASSCE (SC), 2016

Question 1

  1.  Differentiate between land ownership by leasehold and land ownership by freehold.                                         [ 2 marks ]

(b)  Mention five ways in which non-governmental organizations contribute to agricultural
development in West Africa.                  [ 5 marks ]

  • State four ways in which rural-urban migration has hindered agricultural development in West Africa.  [ 4 marks ]
  • Mention three socio-economic uses of land.           [ 3 marks ]
        • Explain two ways by which each of the following environmental factors affect agricultural production:
          1. soil organisms;
          2. soil texture.          [ 4 marks ]

    Observation

    This question was quite popular among the candidates with majority of them scoring above average.  In 1(a), majority of the candidates could not differentiate between leasehold and freehold but most of them were able to mention the ways in which non-governmental organizations contribute to agricultural development in West Africa as required in 1(b). Also, most of the candidates were unable to state the ways in which rural-urban migration has hindered agricultural development in West Africa as required in 1(c) but most of them were able to mention the socio-economic uses of land as well as explain the ways by which soil organisms and soil texture affect agricultural production as required in 1(d) and (e) respectively.

    The expected answers include:

    1(a)   Differences between land ownership by leasehold and land ownership by freehold
    Leasehold involves the payment of fees for land used over a stated period of time under     
    agreed specified conditions
            Whereas/on the other hand/but
    freehold is the outright purchase of land (permanent ownership)
               OR
     
    Land ownership by leasehold                         Land ownership by freehold
    -  Use/ownership is for a specific period         Use/ownership is permanent
    of time
    -  Permanent crops cannot be planted/           Permanent crops can be planted/
    permanent structures cannot be erected     permanent structures can be erected
    -  Land cannot be used as collateral for         Land can be used as collateral
    loan                                                             for loan
    -  Land cannot be sold                                   Land can be sold

    (c) Ways in which rural-urban migration has hindered agricultural development in West
          Africa
    -        Shortage/scarcity of farm labour
    -        Causes high cost of farm labour
    -        Poor quality of labour in rural areas resulting in low productivity
    -        Decrease in food production/food insecurity
    -        Decrease in export
    -        Inadequate supply of raw materials to agro industries
    -        Poor adoption of agricultural innovation due to ageing farming population