CSEC Agricultural Science June 2019 Paper 2

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SECTION I

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Answer ALL questions in this section.

Write your answers in the spaces provided in this booklet.

1. (a) Farmer George cultivates vegetable crops on his half-acre organic farm, which is situated
on a hillside, and obtains water from a river that runs below his farm.

(i) Define the term ‘organic farming’.

Organic farming is a non-conventional farming system in which

the use of synthetic chemicals, or inorganic chemicals, is
restricted.
1 mark for calling it a non-conventional farming system.
1 mark for stating the restriction of synthetic chemicals.

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(2 marks)

(ii) State ONE disadvantage of organic farming.

Inputs acceptable fo organic farming are expensive.

At least 3 years must elapse from last use of inorganic

chemicals before organic farm certifification is possible.

(1 mark)

(iii) Explain ONE way in which Farmer George’s organic farm can benefit the
environment.

.................................................................................................................................
By not using inorganic chemicals, many of which are toxic. [1
mark]
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This reduces the harmful effects of these chemicals on the
.................................................................................................................................
environment e.g. bioaccumulation, eutrophication and killing of
benefificial insects such as bees and other polinators. (1 mark)
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(2 marks)
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(b) Farmer George recently rented Farmer Mary a plot of land adjacent to his farm to
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establish a vegetable plot. Farmer Mary uses genetically modified seeds, pesticides and
artificial fertilizers to grow her crops. Farmer George has applied for organic
certification for his farm and his application was denied.

Using information from the scenario above, suggest THREE reasons why Farmer George’s
application was denied.

.............................................................................................................................................
Pesticide can be wind-blown from Mary's plot to his farm. [1 mark]

.............................................................................................................................................
Seeds of genetically modifified crops may be transfered to his farm e.g. by
birds etc. [1 mark]
..............................................................................................................................................
Mary's genetically modifified crops may cross-pollinate with his own. [1 mark]
..............................................................................................................................................

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(3 marks)

(c) The Minister of Agriculture in Country A is asking the government for an increase in the
budgetary allocation for agriculture.

Suggest TWO reasons the minister could use to justify the request for an increase in the
budgetary allocation for agriculture.

To increase agriculture's contribution to GDP and GNP.

To increase agriculture's contribution to the country’s employment level.

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To improve the country's food security.

(2 marks)

Total 10 marks

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2. (a) (i) Define the term ‘value chain’.

A value chain is the process in which a business receives raw materials,

adds value to them through production, manufacturing and other
processes to create a fifinished product, and then sells the fifinished product
to consumers.
1 mark for stating reception of raw materials and adding value to them via production,
manufacturing and processing.
1 mark for stating sale of fifinished products to consumers. (2 marks)

(ii) State ONE major difference between a ‘supply chain’ and a ‘value chain’.

The supply chain deals with building the product and getting it to the
consumer, while the value chain looks for ways to enhance the product's
value as it moves along that supply chain.

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(1 mark)

(b) Farmers in Mount Dew have been the only suppliers of yams in their area for over 10
years. Recently, they have been complaining that the price of their yams has been reduced
by 50 per cent over the past year.

(i) Suggest THREE reasons for the reduction in the price of the yams.

..................................................................................................................................
More farmers have gotten into yam production, causing a surplus,
which drives prices down. [1 mark]
..................................................................................................................................
Low demand for yam; farmers therefore are compelled to reduce the
..................................................................................................................................
price to try to get comsumers to buy more yam. [1 mark]
..................................................................................................................................
Conditions for production have gotten poorer, reducing quality and thus
forcing a price reduction. [1 mark]
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(3 marks)

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(ii) Suggest ONE way in which the farmers of Mount Dew could get better prices for
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their yams.

Reducing production, which reduces the availability, which raises prices.

(1 mark)

(c) Suraj is unemployed and wants to start rearing livestock to earn an income, even though
he has never reared livestock before. Suraj has no land on which to establish his livestock
farm. He has identified a nearby plot of land belonging to his neighbour who lives overseas,
which he can use to rear his livestock. Suraj has not determined the size of his operations,
the cost or type of livestock he wants to rear. He is advised by his friend to visit the
Agricultural Development Bank to apply for a loan to purchase the livestock.

Considering the scenario above, advise Suraj of THREE challenges that he may encounter
in trying to obtain a loan.

He has no experience in rearing livestock. [1 mark]

He has no business plan or budget. [1 mark]

He has no collateral to use as loan security. [1 mark]

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(3 marks)

Total 10 marks

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SECTION II

Answer ALL questions in this section.

Write your answers in the spaces provided in this booklet.

3. (a) (i) Define the term ‘vegetative propagation’.

The production of new plants without seeds.

(1 mark)

(ii) State ONE vegetative propagation method used to produce banana plants.

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Tissue culture.

(1 mark)

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(b) Farmer Wayne wants to plant a plot of cassava. The extension officer visits his farm and
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advises him that proper primary tillage is important in cassava production.

(i) Suggest TWO reasons why proper primary tillage is important in preparing soil
for planting cassava.

Cassava is a root tuber so it needs well-plouged soil for the tubers

to grow large. [1 mark]

Primary tillage allows greater air penetration of the soil, increasing

its oxygen content, which enhances root tuber respiration and
therefore growth. [1 mark]

(2 marks)
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(ii) Other than tillage, state ONE land preparation method that Farmer Wayne must
use in preparing his plot of land to plant the cassava crop.

Land clearing. [1 mark]

(1 mark)
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(c) Mrs Brown wants to expand her hot pepper farm. The extension officer advises her

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that she should use mechanical land preparation methods instead of manual methods.
Figure 1 shows two implements that are used for tillage.

Figure 1. Tillage implements

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(i) Normally, Mrs Brown would use a fork to perform primary tillage manually. Which
of the implements, A or B, could she use for primary tillage? State ONE reason
in support of your choice.

Implement ..............................................................................................................
B
(1 mark)

Reason The spaced-out discs cut and turn bigger chunks of soil than A.

(1 mark)
A is a rotovator, also called a rotary plough. It is used in secondary tillage:
- for preparation of seedbeds requiring a fifine tilth DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
- after land has been ploughed with moldboard or disc plough.

B is a disc plough. The rotating discs cut and invert furrow slices. It is used in primary tillage. It ploughs
heavy clay soils, stony soils and soils containing stubble. The furrow wheel stabilizes the plough and
keeps it going straight.

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(ii) Suggest TWO advantages and ONE disadvantage of using machinery in land
preparation.

Advantages

More effificient and precise operations such as planting, fertilizing etc. [1 mark]

Reduced labor costs. [1 mark]

Disadvantage

Expensive to purchase.
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(3 marks)

Total 10 marks
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4. (a) Farmer Steve cultivates tomatoes on clayey soil. He observes that during harvest in the
rainy season, the fruits have cracks and splitting skins. The extension officer visits his
farm and identifies that too much water is the cause of the problem.

State THREE cultural practices Famer Steve can use to address the problem of excess
water in the soil.

Formation of drains. [1 mark]

Fomation of raised beds or ridges. [1 mark]

Increased soil porosity by addition of manure. [1 mark]

(3 marks)

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(b) Neela is a plant breeder who wants to breed a red stem celery plant. To achieve this, she
crosses two plants with the Rr gene for red stem colour. The offspring of this cross is called
the F1 Generation.

(i) Complete Table 1 to show the genotype of the F1 Generation.

TABLE 1: RESULTS OF CROSS

Gametes R r

R RR Rr

r Rr rr

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(ii) Calculate the percentage of plants that will be heterozygous for red stem colour.
The two alleles that code for stem color are R and r. The heterozygous genotype has
both alleles. This genotype is Rr.

Number of offspring = 4
Number of offspring with Rr genotype = 2
Percentage of offsoring of Rr genotyoe = (2 ÷ 4) × 100 = 50%
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(1 mark)
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(c) Genetic engineering is used to produce crops such as extended shelf life tomatoes.

Explain TWO ways in which farmers can benefit from growing genetically modified crops.

Crops may be genetically modifified for increased yields. [1 mark]

The increased yields increase the farmer's profifit. [1 mark]

Crops may be genetically modifified for increased disease resistance. [1

mark]
The increased disease resistance reduces the farmer's losses from
destruction of crops due to disease. [1 mark]
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(4 marks)

Total 10 marks
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SECTION III

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Answer ALL questions in this section.

Write your answers in the spaces provided in this booklet.

5. Figure 2 shows Farmer John’s animals feeding on forage.

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Figure 2. Farm animals feeding on forage

(a) (i) Identify the method being used to feed forage to the animals.

Zero grazing.

Zero grazing is feeding ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats) with cut grass
brought to them instead of putting them out to pasture. (1 mark) DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA

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(ii) State ONE advantage and ONE disadvantage of using the method shown in
Figure 2 to feed forage to animals.

Advantage
Animals have greater protection from predators, thieves etc. because
they in an enclosed space instead of an open fifield.

Disadvantage

Costs more in terms of labor because the grass has to be cut and
brought to the animals.

Text
(2 marks)

(iii) Suggest TWO reasons why it is important for Farmer John to include forage when
feeding his animals.
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.................................................................................................................................
Forage is most easily digestible by ruminants; a ruminant's
digestive system is designed to digest forage. [1 mark]
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High-quality forage is verty niutritios to ruminants while being low-
.................................................................................................................................
cost to obtain. [1 mark]
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(2 marks)
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(b) A farmer who practises rotational grazing observes that parasite infestation is well controlled

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in his cattle.

(i) Suggest THREE ways in which rotational grazing helps to control the level of
parasite infestation.

Animals are moved out of a paddock before parasite eggs hatch

and larva are ingested. [1 mark]

Most parasite larva are found in the fifirst 2 inches of forage growth
from the soil up; rotational grazing reduces chance of animals
grazing the forage down to that level. [1 mark]

By moving sheep from one paddock to the next any worm eggs
which have been expelled by the animals and hatched will be less
likely to be picked up by the other animals. [1 mark]

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(3 marks)

(ii) During the rainy season, it is easier for farmers to obtain forage to feed their
animals. However, in the dry season many farmers experience difficulty finding
high quality forage to feed their animals.

Suggest TWO methods farmers can implement in order to conserve forage for use
in the dry season.

Hay-making. [1 mark]
Silage-making. [1 mark]

Silage is green forage crops that have been cut and preserved in a succulent (juicy),
palatable and nutritious condition for later use as feeding material for ruminant livestock.
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(2 marks)

Total 10 marks

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6. Farmer Telly wants to increase the size of his dairy herd but finds it very costly to rear bulls. He
is advised by the extension officer to make use of the artificial insemination (AI) services provided
by the Ministry of Agriculture in his area.

(a) (i) State TWO reasons why Farmer Telly is encouraged to use artificial insemination
as a method of breeding in his dairy enterprise.
Allows his cows to produce offspring from high-quality bulls without the
time and expense of bringing the animals together. [1 mark]

The farmer can make use of estrus synchonization. [1 mark]

Estrus synchronization is where female mammals are induced to go into heat in a shorter period of time than their estrus
cycle allows, through the use of hormones. This allows several females to be made receptive to mating at the same time.
The benefifits of estrus synchronization are as follows:
- There is a shorter birth interval. This allows females, especially heifers (young female cows that have not calved, or
borne a calf), to conceive earlier in the breeding season.
- There is more effective use of artifificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer. This reduces time and labor in detecting
estrus (heat).
(2 marks)
- There is the production of offspring with similar ages.

(ii) State ONE problem Farmer Telly might encounter in using artificial insemination
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in his dairy enterprise.

Lack of trained inseminators assigned to ther district.

(1 mark)

(b) After using the artificial insemination services provided by the Ministry of Agriculture,
Farmer Telly observed that none of his cows conceived.

Suggest THREE possible reasons why none of the cows conceived.

.............................................................................................................................................
Sperm were not viable (unable to fertilize ova) e.g. due to
inadequate storage. [1 mark]
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Incorrect artifificial insemination procedure. [1 mark]

..............................................................................................................................................

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(3 marks)
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(c) Farmer Zoe placed a batch of eggs in an incubator to hatch. After 21 days, she noticed that
none of the eggs hatched.

(i) Suggest TWO possible reasons why the eggs did not hatch.

Eggs are unfertilized. [1 mark]

Eggs were infected by a pathogen (disease-causing organism) [1

mark]

(2 marks)

(ii) Upon closer examination of the eggs, the shells were observed to be thin and
cracked. Explain ONE reason for this observation.

The hens are not getting enough calcium in their diet. [1 mark]

Calcium is necessary for eggshell prpduction, as the shells are made

of calcium carbonate. [1 mark]

(2 marks)
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Total 10 marks

END OF TEST

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 Agri Science June 2011 Paper 2
-2-

SECTION I

1. Mrs James gets 10 hectares of arable land for agriculture.

(a) State TWO factors of production that she must consider.

Any 2 of the following:
labor; capital; management

(b) Mrs James completes a loan application form but is unsuccessful in getting the loan.
Suggest TWO criteria required to obtain a loan.

Any 2 of the following:

collateral; farm proposal and budget; farm records; character references

2. Caribbean agriculture is affected by many constraints (challenges). One constraint is a negative

attitude towards agriculture.

(a) Name TWO OTHER constraints affecting agriculture in the Caribbean.

Any 2 of the following: access to fifinancing; aging farm population;
.......................................................................
Climate
. . . . . . . . and
. . . . topography;
. . . . . . . . . . . .lack
. . . .of
. . adeqwuate
. . . . . . . . . . .extension
. . . . . . . . . .services;
....................
lack of appropriate technology;predial larceny; land tenure;
lack of rural infrastructure
(b) Provide TWO arguments to convince your fellow students to become involved in agriculture.

.Agriculture
. . . . . . . . . . provides
. . . . . . . . .a. wide
. . . . . range
. . . . . .of
. . career
. . . . . . .options
..............................

.Agriculture
. . . . . . . . . . provides
. . . . . . . . partial
. . . . . . .or
. . complete
. . . . . . . . . food
. . . . .securoty
. . . . . . . . for
. . . farmers
..................

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 -3-

3. Crop rotation is often recommended to farmers because it reduces levels of pests and diseases.

Many crop pests and diseases thrive on specifific types of crops.

Crop rotation reduces prevalence of pests and dsiseases by changing the
type of crop grown, denying a particular pests or disease its target crop.

(b) A farmer wants to grow corn, sweet potato, beans and lettuce. Complete the following
crop rotation sequence which can be used for growing these crops.

(1)
Corn

(4) (2)

Sweet potato Beans

............... ...............

(3)

Lettuce
................

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 -4-

4. An agronomist conducts an experiment to study the effect of soil compaction on tuber production
of yam.

(a) Name the part of the plant that is used for propagating yam.

.Tuber
......................................................................

(b) The plot of yam becomes heavily infested with weeds. State ONE effect this is likely to
have on the production of yam.
Reduced
. . . . . . . . .tuber
. . . . . yield
. . . . .via
. . . competition
. . . . . . . . . . . for
. . . nutrients
...................................

.......................................................................

(c) Table 1 shows the results of the experiment conducted by the agronomist.

TABLE 1:
THE EFFECT OF SOIL COMPACTION ON TUBER YIELD IN YAM

Not compacted 20

Slightly compacted 15

Moderately compacted 12

Highly compacted 7

Describe the relationship between soil compaction and tuber yield, shown in Table 1.

.The
. . . .higher
. . . . . .the
. . . compaction,
. . . . . . . . . . . . the
. . . .lower
. . . . . the
. . . .yield
................................

.......................................................................

(d) A farmer attempts to till a compacted soil with a garden fork but he is unsuccessful.
Recommend ONE tillage implement that can be used to break up the compacted layer.
Subsoiler/chisel
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . plough
........................................................

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5. A rabbit farmer needs to improve production on his rabbitry.

(a) State TWO breeding methods used in rabbit production.

Any 2 of the following: line breeding, pure breeding, upgrading and cross breeding.

(b) To improve production of the next generation, the farmer decides to select rabbits showing
high growth rates. Suggest TWO OTHER qualities or traits he may select.

Any 2 of the following:

healthy animals; good pedigree; good body conformation; good FCR/
dressing percentage

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 -6-

6. (a) Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the digestive tract of a goat and a broiler bird respectively.

Crop

Reticulum

Abomasum

Identify the structures labelled X in Figure 1 and Y in Figure 2.

Rumen
X: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Y: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

water almost completely drains out.

(i) Suggest the MOST likely cause of this problem.

One of the following: very porous soil; failure to compact soil before fifilling
.................................................................

(ii) Recommend ONE solution to this problem.

Line
. . . . .the
. . . pond
. . . . . .with
. . . .polythene
...............................................

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 -7-

SECTION II

7. (a) Table 2 is an example of an incomplete breeding record of a doe. Three of the headings
are missing.

TABLE 2: BREEDING RECORD OF A DOE

Date Date Date Doe

Mated Used Weaned Offspring Offspring Kindled Weaned

Complete the record by inserting the following headings in the correct order in Table 2.

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 -8-

farm enterprise.

TABLE 3: FINANCIAL ACCOUNT

Goats sold 250 000

Replacement does 55 000

Housing and equipment 100 000

Farm operator salary 20 000

Cost of corn seeds 5 000

Subsidy on land preparation 10 000

Feed costs 50 000

Sale of corn 50 000

Casual labour 10 000

Variable Costs $
Replacement does 55,000
Farm operator salary 20,000
Cost of corn seeds 5,000
Feed costs 50,000
Casual labor 10,000

Fixed Costs $

Housing and equipment 100,000

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 -9-

(ii) Calculate the gross income and the net income.

Gross income
Goat sold + Subsidy on land preparation
= $250,000 + $10,000
= $260,000

Net income

Gross income - (Total variable costs + Total fifixed costs)

= $260,000 - ($140,000 + $100,000) = $20,000

(iii) State whether or not the farmer’s business is successful. Explain your answer.

Yes, the business was successful because it made a profit.

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 - 10 -

8. (a) (i) State TWO effects that the overuse of fertilisers may have on the environment.
Any 2 of the following: fertilizer burn of plants, environmental
poilution, increased soil acidity

Any 1 of the following: reduces water loss; adds nutrients to

the soil; controls weeds.

cultivating practices (similarities and differences) of these TWO crops under the following
headings:

(i) Land preparation

(ii) Fertiliser application

(iii) Harvesting and post-harvest handling

Land preparation
.......................................................................

Removing
. . . . . . . . . . weeds
. . . . . . .and
. . . .tilling
. . . . . the
. . . .soil
. . . to
. . .a. fine
. . . . tilth,
. . . . .for
. . .both
. . . . crops.
..................
Make flat top beds for leaf crop, and ridges and furrows for root crop.
.......................................................................

.......................................................................
Fertilizer
. . . . . . . . .application
..............................................................
Adding organic matter and nitrogenous fertilizer for the leafy crop.
.......................................................................
and in the early stages of growth for root crop.
.......................................................................
Mixed fertilizer for the root crop.
.......................................................................

.......................................................................
Harvesting
. . . . . . . . . . .and
. . . .post-harvest
. . . . . . . . . . . .handling
............................................
Use
. . . . .of. .a. .knife
. . . . .to. .cut
. . . away
. . . . . .the
. . . head
. . . . . at
. . .the
. . . base
. . . . . for
. . . leafy
. . . . . crop.
...................
Use of a fork or other digging tool for the root crop.
.......................................................................

.......................................................................

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9. (a) Name a meat breed for EACH of the following classes of livestock:
One following: Landrace; Large White; Duroc; Hamsphire; Tamworth
(i) Pig ..........................................................
One following: British Alpine; Anglo-Nubian; Saanen; Toggenburg
(ii) Goat ...........................................................

(iii)
One following: Flemish Giant; New Zealand White; New Zealand Red;
Rabbit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
California; Chinchilla

(b) An Agricultural Science student carried out an experiment over a four-week period to
evaluate the performance of rabbits on a forage diet and on a concentrate diet. Table 4
shows the results of the experiment.

TABLE 4: FEEDING EXPERIMENT ON RABBITS

1 0.4 0.4

2 0.5 0.6

3 0.9 1.2

4 1.2 1.4

(i) On which of the diets, forage or concentrate, did the rabbits gain MORE weight?
Concentrate
.................................................................

(ii) Calculate the increase in average weight of the rabbits on the concentrate diet,
from one week to four weeks.

1.4 − 0.4 = 1 kg
Weight at end of week 1 - 0.4 kg
Weight at end of week 4 = 1.4 kg
Therefore weight gain from week 1 to week 4 = 1.4 − 0.4 = 1 kg

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 - 13 -

(iii) At the end of four weeks, an average of 4.2 kg of feed was consumed by each
rabbit. Calculate the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) on the concentrate diet, using
the data in Table 4 on page 12.

4.2 ÷ 1.4 = 3

FCR = feed consumed ÷ total weight gain

Average feed comsumed after 4 weeks = 4.2 kg
Average weight after 4 weeks = 1.4 kg
The animals used 4.2 kg of feed to gain 1,4 kg of weight after 4 weeks.
Therefore FCR = 4.2 ÷ 1.4 = 3

(iv) Explain the importance of Feed Conversion Ratio in livestock production.

It informs the farmer of hoe effificient an animal is at

converting feed to meat.

(c) One rabbit in the experiment showed the following signs:

– Frequent shaking of its head

– Scabs in its ear

– A foul-smelling substance oozing from the ear

Suggest the likely cause of this condition and state TWO methods for controlling it.
Cause:
. . . . . . . .Mange
...............................................................
Control:
.......................................................................
Massage mineral oil into the ear; clean ear with suitable antiseptic solution;
.......................................................................
use of acaricides to kill mites tthe hat cause the condition; strict sanitation
.......................................................................

END OF TEST
 Agri science June 2010 Paper 2
-2-

SECTION I

1. (a) An attractive way of supporting farmers with incentives is to provide them with farm
inputs.
List TWO OTHER ways by which Caribbean governments can offer incentives to farmers.
Subsidies
.......................................................................

.Price
. . . . .supports
.................................................................
Other answers: Tax exemptions on inputs.

(b) Sustainable agriculture promotes the farm as a well-managed economic unit, thereby
reducing farmers’ dependence on subsidies.

Suggest TWO OTHER positive contributions made by sustainable agriculture.

It promotes conservation and preservation of resources.

it reduces polution and supportds biodiversity.

2.
international economies.

(a) List TWO contributions which agriculture can make to the national economy.

.Provision
. . . . . . . . .of
. . employment
...........................................................
Provision of food security
.......................................................................
Other answers: Contribution to GDP, reduction of food import bill,
earning and saving or foreign exhange, creation of downdstream industries
(b) Suggest TWO ways by which the Ministry of Agriculture can support young people who
are involved in agricultural production.
Provision of subsidies/inputs
.......................................................................

.Access
. . . . . . to
. . .land
.............................................................
Other answers: provision of credit/loans; provision of extension services;
opportunities for education/training; assisting farmers with marketing of
produce through provision of transportation; promoting agricultural tours
and competitions that target young people.

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01202020/F 2010
 -3-

3. Soil erosion occurs as a result of the actions of wind and water.

(a) Explain how water causes soil erosion.

.Rain
. . . . .falls
. . . .on
. . .bare
. . . . .soil,
. . . .or
. . water
. . . . . .fl
flows
. . . . . over
. . . . .bare
. . . . .soil
. . . dur
. . . .to
. . fl
flooding
. . . . . . . .etc.
.........

.This
. . . . removes
. . . . . . . . .the
. . . topsoil.
......................................................

(b) Mulch, when used as a soil erosion control method, harbours pests. Conservation techniques
such as strip cropping, however, do not present such problems.

Suggest TWO OTHER conservation techniques that can be used to reduce soil erosion.

Contour
. . . . . . . . tillage
. . . . . . and
. . . . .drains
....................................................
Planting of cover crops
.......................................................................

4. (a) The germination of seeds is affected by the depth at which they are planted.

.Soil
. . . .oxygen
. . . . . . .content
...........................................................
Soil moisture content
.......................................................................
Other answers: Soil temperature

(b) In an experiment, a student observes that the germination of seeds is higher in new, unused
seedling trays than in trays which have been previously used.

(i) Suggest ONE reason that may account for this observation.

.The
. . . .trays
. . . . .may
. . . . have
. . . . . had
. . . . .pathogens
. . . . . . . . . .that
. . . .killed
. . . . . the
. . . .seedlings
. . . . . . . . .before
.........

.they
. . . . emerged.
............................................................

(ii) Describe ONE measure the student can undertake to improve the germination of
seeds sown in seedling trays which have been previously used.
Sanitation of the trays
.................................................................

.................................................................

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 -4-

5. Figure 1 shows the digestive tract of two different species of farm animals.

0 cm 10

(a) State the names of the parts of the digestive tract labelled X and Y respectively in
Figure 1.

X .Gizzard
..................................

Rumen
Y ....................................

(b) A farmer feeds to Species B a ration which consists mainly of grass. Give ONE reason
why Species B will be better able to utilize this feed.

Microbes
. . . . . . . . . in
. . .the
. . . rumen
. . . . . . .digest
. . . . . .the
. . . cellulose
. . . . . . . . .in
. .the
. . . .grass.
.........................

The
. . . . .resulting
. . . . . . . .glucose
. . . . . . . .is. .used
. . . . .by
. . .the
. . . animal
. . . . . . .for
. . .energy.
...........................

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 -5-

6. (a) Some forages fed to animals are para, antelope, stylosanthes and kudzu.

Name ONE legume and ONE grass from the list of forages above.

Grass . Para
. . . . . .Antelope
. . . . . . . . .is. .also
. . . .an
. . .answer
.............

Legume .Stylosanthes
Kudzu is also an answer
...................................

(b) The decrease in forage production during a prolonged dry period resulted in a 20%
reduction in milk production.

Advise farmers on TWO measures which should be taken during the next season
to correct this problem.

Forage
. . . . . . . .conservation
. . . . . . . . . . . .(haymaking
. . . . . . . . . . . and
. . . . silage
. . . . . . production)
..............................
Fertilization
. . . . . . . . . . . .of. .native
. . . . . . pastures
...................................................
Other answers: Use of intensive zero-grazing rearing systems

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 -6-

SECTION II

7. Study the graphs in Figure 2 and Figure 3 and answer the questions that follow.

Price ($)

A
4.00

B
2.00

Demand (D)

100 200
Quantity of tomato (kg)

Supply (S)
Price ($)

D
4.00

2.00 C

200 600
Quantity of tomato (kg)

(a) Using price and quantity, explain what is happening at point B of Figure 2.
At price $2.00, a quantity of 200 kg of tomato would be demanded.
One mark each for mention of specifific price and quantity.
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 Note for (iii): the question asks how the
farmer would respond IF THE PRICE
-7- RISES FROM $2.00 TO $4.00. It DOES
NOT ask how the farmer would respond
IF THE CONSUUMER REDUCED THE
AMOUNT OF TOMATOES BOUGHT.
(b) If the price of tomato increases from $2.00 to $4.00:

(i) What will be the quantity demanded?

100 kg DO NOT LEAVE OUT THE UNIT.
(ii) Suggest TWO ways by which the consumer will respond to the increase in price.
Purchase less tomatoes; seek a cheaper vendor
(iii) How will the farmer MOST likely respond?
Offering more tomatoes for sale; increasing production
(iv) What will be the quantity supplied?
200 kg DO NOT LEAVE OUT THE UNIT.
(c) Suggest TWO measures which Caribbean governments can take to prevent the scarcity
of tomato. Any two of the following: import tomatoes; encourage farmers to increase
production of produce year round remove taxes and offer subsidies on inputs.
(d) State the law of diminishing returns, using an example of a crop grown on a farm.
In tomato production, if fertilizer usage is continually increased by 1 additional
unit while all other inputs are kept constant, the marginal output of tomatoes will
increase to a maximum level, and then start decreasing.
The example must be incoerpirated into the defifiniton. The example coudl be any crop with one of its
inputs e.g. fertilizer
8. (a) Weeds are described as unwanted plants and if they are not controlled they have adverse
effects on crop production.

List THREE ways by which weeds can affect the growth and yield of crops.
Competition for nutrients; depriviation of sunlight; denial of optimum spacing

(b) Farmer Dillon cultivates maize (corn) on a two-hectare plot of land. He controls weed
growth with a locally available weedicide.

(i) Categorize weedicide use as either manual, mechanical, chemical or cultural

control.
Chemical
(ii) After continued use of the weedicide, Farmer Dillon observed that the broad leaf
weeds had disappeard but other weeds persisted. Give TWO likely reasons for
this observation.
Weeds developed resistance to the chemicals; a selective herbicide was used.
(iii) Describe TWO cultural practices Farmer Dillon can use on his farm to control
weed growth. Any two of the following: mulching; intercropping; high planting density;
ploughing before planting.
(iv) Identify TWO methods of mechanical weed control.
Ploughing; hand-weeding

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 - 8 -

9. (a) (i) State the incubation period for broiler eggs.

21 days
(ii) What is the purpose of candling hatching eggs?
To check development of the chick embryo

Laying ration

(b) Figure 4 shows one-day-old chickens in a brooding area.

Baby chick

Feeder

Source of heat

Water

Identify ONE problem shown in Figure 4 and suggest how the problem could be corrected.
Problem: too much heat fro mthe heat source; solution: raise the heat source
higher
(c) A new poultry farmer recently lost many birds during the brooding period. He believes
that the feed and litter quality were inadequate. Advise him on how he should manage his
birds during this brooding period. Your answer should include TWO practices for feed
and TWO practices for litter quality.
Feed: should be free from mold; should be from a reputable manufacturer
Litter: should be clean; should be dry
(d) The farmer also observed bloody droppings in the litter.

(i) Identify the disease MOST likely affecting the birds.

Coccidiosis
(ii) Advise the farmer on TWO management practices to correct this problem.
Use coccidiostats; ensure clean, dry litter.

END OF TEST