This question was fairly attempted by the candidates. In 1(a), most of the candidates
could not state five ways in which export of agricultural produce contributes to the economy of West African countries. Further to this, majority of the candidates could not mention three differences between communal and individual land ownership.
However, in 1(c), most of the candidates could state three ways in which farm surveying is important. They could also list four uses to which land may be put in a community as required in 1(d).
The expected answers include:
1(a) Ways in which export of agricultural produce contribute to the economy of West African countries
- Source of foreign exchange
- Employment generation
- Source of income to farmers
- Provision of market for the industrial sector
- Contributes to the development of rural areas
- Contributes to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP)
- Promotes trade balance with the highly industrialized countries
- Reduces dependence of a nation on a particular non-agricultural resource (e.g. crude oil, gold, diamond etc.)
- Encourages growth of commercial farming
- Encourages bilateral relationship between countries
(b) Differences between communal and individual land ownership system
- A non-member of the community has no access to communal land while a non-member of the community can acquire land in individual land ownership.
- Land belongs to the entire community in the communal system whereas it belongs to the individual in the individual ownership.
- Village head/land committee distributes land to individuals in the community while the individual acquires his land by purchase or inheritance in individual ownership.
- Use to which land is put to in the communal system is influenced/controlled by the village head while in the individual system, the individual determines the usage of land.
- Sale of land is rarely done in communal land tenure system since no individual has absolute ownership but it is common in individual land ownership system.
- Communal land cannot be used as collateral while land held by the individual can be used as collateral.
- Enterprising farmers can expand their holdings under individual ownership but cannot do so in communal system.
- Communal land is not transferable whereas individual land is transferable
- permanent crops are not usually planted on communal land while permanent crops can be planted on individual land.
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