Observation

1. This question was most popular among candidates. However, some candidates failed to distinguish how basic amenities and farm inputs affect agricultural development in West Africa.
2. Some candidates misinterpreted the uses of tractor and bulldozer and were interchanging them.
3. Some candidates found it difficult to distinguish the daily and routine maintenance practices carried out on a tractor.   

The expected answers include:

1. (a)   Factors hindering agricultural development in West Africa
(i)   Basic amenities                       
-  Inadequate storage facilities result in wastage of farm produce
-  Inadequate processing facilities cause wastage of farm produce
-  Inadequate provision/lack of portable water for domestic use
-  Shortage of water for irrigation
-  Lack/inadequate recreational facilities which promote rural-urban migration
-  Poor health care services/facilities reduce productivity of farmers
-  Lack of/inadequate supply of electricity in many rural areas for farm operations
-  Bad road network connecting the rural areas to the urban centres makes  
evacuation of farm produce difficult
-  Lack of adequate educational facilities for farmers’ children
                             
(ii)  Farm inputs
- Lack of/inadequate access to modern tools and farm machinery which constrains   
farmers to subsistence farming/use of crude tools
- Inadequate supply/high cost of farm inputs such as seeds, fertilizers,    
agrochemicals to farmers which reduce farm output
- Inadequate supply of improved breeds of farm animals reduces livestock
production
- Inadequate supply/high cost of feeds for feeding animals
- Poor technical know-how in the use of inputs made available to farmers
- Untimely supply of farm inputs e.g. fertilizer to farmers which delays timely 
planting of crops
- Poor quality/adulterated farm input e.g. seed, fertilizer.

(b)       Uses of farm machinery
(i)   Tractor
- Pulling/lifting of farm implements
- Can be used to generate electricity
- Carrying of loads to and from the farm/haulage/transportation
- Provision of power for field operation such as ploughing, harrowing, ridging and            planting
-  Provision of power for driving stationery equipment such as shellers, grinders    

(ii)  Bulldozer
- Collection of earth
- Moving of earth/road construction
- Stumping
- Bush clearing
- Removal of obstacles
                                                                                                    
(c)     Daily maintenance practices carried out on a tractor
- Checking of tyre pressure and gauging when necessary
- Parking it in a shed
- Checking of the radiator and topping the water when necessary
- Checking of brake fluid level
- Checking of the engine oil
- General cleaning of the tractor after use
- Checking bolts and nuts