WAEC Agricultural Science 2012 Theory question 101

Theory question 101

Agricultural Development

(a) Explain what is meant by subsistence agriculture.
(b) Discuss briefly the interdependence of agriculture and industry under the following headings: (i) tools, implements and machinery industries; (ii) processing industries; (iii) agro-chemical industries.
(c)(i) What is farm surveying? (ii) With the aid of a diagram, explain the use of the 3, 4, 5 method in farm survey.

Show the model answer
Model answer

(a) Farming in which the farmer, using simple tools and family labour on a small area, produces mainly enough to feed his family, with little or nothing for sale.
(b)(i) Industries make tools, implements and machines for farming, and farmers are their market; farming gives these industries demand and income.
(ii) Agriculture supplies raw materials (cocoa, cotton, oil palm, cassava, milk) to processing industries; the industries buy farm produce, add value, reduce waste and provide a market for farmers.
(iii) Agro-chemical industries supply fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, drugs and feed additives; farmers' demand keeps these industries going.
(c)(i) Farm surveying is the measuring and mapping of a farm to find its size, shape, boundaries and the position of features on it.
(ii) Diagram: right-angled triangle with sides 3 m, 4 m and 5 m (right angle at A). Explanation: from point A on the base line measure 3 m along the line to C and peg it; tie a 4 m cord to A and a 5 m cord to C; stretch both until they meet at B and peg it; angle BAC is then 90°, giving a perpendicular for setting out the farm.

Explanation

The diagram in (c)(ii) must show the 3, 4 and 5 m sides and the right angle.