Agriculture Questions and Answers - Form 4 Mid Term 2 Exams 2023

Instruction

• Answer all questions (50 Marks)

QUESTIONS

1. Below is a graphical representation of a law in agricultural economics.  Study the graph carefully and answer the questions that follow.
   
   
   1. State the law illustrated by the graph    (2mk)
   2. Explain how each additional unit of fertilizer input relates to the total output of maize in Phases II and III.  (2mks)
   3. State the importance of the law identified in (I) above to the maize farmer  (1mk)
2. Explain five factors that should be considered in farm planning. (10mks)
3. Give eight benefits of agroforestry (8mks)
4. The table below shows the population and gross domestic products of countries A and B
   

   Country	Gross  Domestic Product (Million Kshs)	Country  Population (Million)
   A	1800	36
   B	1200	15

   1. Calculate the per capita income for each country. Show your working (3mks) 
   2. Which of the two countries is more developed economically (1mk) 
   3. Give a reason for your answer in (b) above (1mk) 
   4. How can agriculture increase the gross domestic product of a country (1mk)
5. A farmer has 30 hectares of arable land, 20 hectares of which is planted with maize and 10hectares with grass hay. He wishes to replace 10hectares of maize with Irish potatoes next year. The fertilizer rate will have to be increased from 2 bags per hectare for maize to 4 bags per hectare for potatoes. As a result of the change extra 40 men days of actual labour per hectare will be necessary at the rate of Kshs.100 per man a day. The average yield per hectare of maize is 35bags and for potatoes 120bags.The price paid is Kshs.1, 000 per bag of maize and Kshs.600 per bag of potatoes. Maize seeds cost Kshs.750 per hectare and potatoes cost Kshs.800 per hectare. Fertilizer costs are 650 per hectare. Draw up a partial budget and advice the farmer accordingly. (10mks) 
6. Describe the management practices that should be carried out on tree seedlings (10mks)

MARKING SCHEME

1. Below is a graphical representation of a law in agricultural economics.  Study the graph carefully and answer the questions that follow.
   1. State the law illustrated by the graph    (2mk)
      • Law of diminishing returns which states that if successive units of work input are added to a fixed input a point is eventually reached where additional output per addition unit  of input declines.
   2. Explain how each additional unit of fertilizer input relates to the total output of maize in Phases II and III. ( 2 mks)
      • Phase II
      • Each additional unit of fertilizer input leads to a lower increase in total output of maize than the previous unit of fertilizer 
      • Phase III  (1mk)
      • Each additional unit of fertilizer input leads to decrease in total output of maize
   3. State the importance of the law identified in (I) above to the maize farmer  (1mk)
      • Helps the farmer to identify the level of  optimum fertilizer application in the production of maize
2. Explain five factors that should be considered in farm planning. (10 Mks)
   • Environment factors
   • Size of the farm
   • Farmers objective and performance
   • Government regulations/policy
   • Availability and cost of farm inputs
   • Security
   • Trends in the labour market/skills
   • Existing market conditions and price
   • Communication and transport to ensure that produce reach markets and inputs are easily accessed.
   • Possible production enterprises the farmer chooses that have low inputs with most profitable
3. Give eight benefits of agroforestry  (8mks)
   • Improves water catchment in a given area 
   • Conserves soil and moisture
   • Improves soil fertility
   • Source of livestock feed
   • Source of income
   • Source of food to the farmers
   • Some are of medicinal value
   • Improves the beauty of environment
4. The table below shows the population and gross domestic products of countries A and B
   

   Country	Gross  Domestic Product (Million Kshs)	Country  Population (Million)
   A	1800	36
   B	1200	15

   1. Calculate the per capita income for each country. Show your working (3mks)
      • Per capita income = Gross Domestic product
                                                Population
      • Country A = 1800 = 50 
                                        36
      • Country B = 1200 = 80
                                        15
   2. Which of the two countries is more developed economically (1mk)
      • Country B is more developed
   3. Give a reason for your answer in (b) above (1mk)
      • Has higher per capita income
   4. How can agriculture increase the gross domestic product of a country (1mk)
      • By creating employment, developing industries, increasing production.
5. A farmer has 30 hectares of arable land, 20 hectares of which is planted with maize and 10hectares with grass hay. He wishes to replace 10hectares of maize with Irish potatoes next year. The fertilizer rate will have to be increased from 2 bags per hectare for maize to 4 bags per hectare for potatoes. As a result of the change extra 40 men days of actual labour per hectare will be necessary at the rate of Kshs.100 per man a day. The average yield per hectare of maize is 35bags and for potatoes 120bags.The price paid is Kshs.1, 000 per bag of maize and Kshs.600 per bag of potatoes. Maize seeds cost .750 per hectare and potatoes cost Kshs.800 per hectare. Fertilizer costs are 650 per hectare. Draw up a partial budget and advice the farmer accordingly. (10mks)
   
6. Describe the management practices that should be carried out on tree seedlings (10mks)
   
   • Constructing a fence around individual/ seedling  
   • Excessive cutting back the crown of grivellea, croton, acacia
   • Controlling termites using appropriate chemicals
   • Regular weeding
   • Regular
   • Grafting old trees
   • Carrying out budding
   • Clearing unwanted bushes
   • Prevention of fire
   • Control diseases
   • Cutting back
   • Thinning – removal of excess tree seedlings