Agriculture Paper 3, WASSCE (PC), 2017

Question 3

      

  1. The diagram below illustrates a cereal crop. Study it and answer the questions that follow.


    (a) Name the parts labelled I, II, III, IV and V. (5 marks)

    (b) State the method of propagation of the illustrated crop. (1 Mark)

    (c) State four activities involved in the processing of the part labelled III in the diagram. (1 Mark)

    (d) Name one farm machine used in harvesting the crop illustrated. (1 Mark)

    (e) List two fungal diseases that could infect the crop illustrated. (2 Mark)

    (f) State two ways of controlling the fungal diseases listed in 3(e). (2 Mark)

Observation

This question surprisingly was unpopular among candidates. Though some of the candidates were able to correctly name the labelled parts and state the method of propagation, majority could neither state the activities involved in the processing of maize cob. Candidates could not equally mention the fungal diseases that attack maize crop and ways of controlling them. Candidates just mentioned diseases as they pleased and could not mention farm machine used for harvesting maize crop. Majority ignorantly mentioned tractor.

The expected answers include:


3. (c) Activities involved in the processing of the part labelled III (Cob)

- Drying

- Dehuski

- Shelling

- Winnowing

- Milling/grinding

- Soaking

- Sieving

- Roasting (Pop corn)

- Cooking/boiling


(d) (iv) Farm machine used in harvesting the illustrated crop (Maize crop))

- Corn picker

- Combine harvester


(e) Fungal diseases that could infest the crop illustrated (Maize crop)

- Corn smut

- Maize rust

- Leaf blight

- Leaf spot


(f) Ways of controlling the fungal diseases listed in 3(e)

- Seed treatment with fungicides

- Practicing crop rotation

- Use of resistant varieties

- Uproot and burn infected plants