NAME OF STUDENT: __________________________________

NGABU CLUSTER MOCK EXAMINATIONS

2024 JUNIOR CERTIFICATE OF EXAMINATIONS

AGRICULTURE
(100 Marks)

Subject Number: J012

Tuesday, 19 March Time Allowed: 2 hours

8:00 – 10:00 am

INSTRUCTIONS

1. This paper contains 9 printed pages. Please check.

2. This paper has three sections, A, B Question Tick if Do not write

and C. Number answered in these
columns
3. Follow instructions for each section
1-20
carefully. 21
4. Write your name in the spaces 22
provided on all the pages of this 23
24
paper before you start answering the
25
questions. 26
5. In the table provided on this page, 27
tick against the question number you 28
29
have answered.
30
6. At the end of the examination, hand 31
in your paper to the invigilator 32
33

© 2024 NGABU CLUSTER Turn over

NAME OF STUDENT:
Page 2 of 9

SECTION A (20 marks)

Answer all questions in this section by encircling the letter corresponding to the correct answer. Each
question carries 1 mark.
1. The first top layer in a soil profile is dark in 7. Which of the following are the major factors
colour because it is _____________. of agricultural production?
A. well - aerated. A. Quota and management.
B. prone to leaching. B. Capital and management.
C. expose to high temperature. C. Location and Soil texture.
D. rich in humus. D. Labour and Market.

2. Which of the following is a storage pest of 8. Which of the following is not the advantage
maize? of organic manure in crop production?
A. stalk borer. A. It provides nourishment for
B. aphid. microorganisms.
C. rat. B. It reduces the soil pH.
D. ringworms. C. It controls diseases.
D. It improves soil structure.
3. Which of the following is the reason for
“steaming up” sows? 9. Which of the following methods of weeding
i. sows to be in good health condition for is recommended in groundnuts when they
farrowing are about to flower?
ii. makes the sows to ovulate A. Slashing.
iii. provides nutrients for growth of foetus B. Uprooting.
iv. sows to be strong enough for mating C. Banking.
A. i and iii D. Hoeing.
B. i and ii
C. iii and iv 10. To which group of vegetables does
D. ii and iv tomatoes belong?
A. Fruit.
4. What type of soil is suitable for root B. Leaf.
vegetables? C. Root.
A. Silty clay. D. Legume.
B. Clay loam.
C. Sandy clay. 11. Budgeting helps farmers to ___________
D. Sandy loam. A. apply for loan.
B. identify problems.
5. African swine fever in pigs is caused by ___ C. avoid overspending.
A. bacteria known as Escherichia. D. buy inputs.
B. virus called iridovirus.
C. low levels of red blood cells. Figure 1 is a diagram of livestock production
D. constipation. tool and equipment. Use it to answer questions
12 and 13.
6. Which of the following are the common
predators of chicken?
A. Ravens and Thieves.
B. Hawks and dogs.
C. Wild carts and Eagles.
D. Tapeworms and Wild dogs.
NAME OF STUDENT:
Page 3 of 9
12. Identify the equipment. B. recommendations.
A. Chaff cutter. C. conclusion.
B. Dosing gun. D. discussion.
C. Brace and bit.
D. Sash clamp. 18. Which of the following farm equipment
are used in controlling external parasites?
13. State one use of the equipment. i. animal crush
A. Oral administration of liquid drugs to ii. dip tank
animals. iii. spray race
B. Chopping straw into small pieces. iv. knapsack sprayer
C. For holding together pieces of wood. A. i, ii and iii
D. For drilling holes on wood. B. i, iii and iv
C. ii, iii and iv
14. Mr Tchapo planted 1000 seeds and 45% D. i, ii and iv
of the seeds germinated. How many
seeds did not germinate? Figure 2 is a diagram of a type of irrigation
A. 955 system. Use it to answer questions 19 and 20.
B. 550
C. 900
D. 450

15. Which of the following parts of the

digestive system of a ruminant is mainly
used for absorption of water from feed?
A. Reticulum.
B. Abomasum.
C. Rumen.
D. Omasum.
19. Identify the irrigation system.
16. What is the first stage in carrying out A. flood
research? B. basin
A. experimental design. C. furrow
B. hypothesis formulation. D. drip
C. problem identification.
D. finding the aim. 20. Which of the following could reduce water
loss when using this system of irrigation?
17. Which of the following parts of a report for A. levelling off the field.
an agricultural research outlines ideas on B. planting grass in the ditches.
new research to be conducted? C. mulching on crop rows.
A. materials and methods. D. type of soil in the field.

SECTION B (50 marks)

Answer all questions in this section in the spaces provided.
21. a. Outline the three main systems of keeping poultry available to farmers in Malawi.
__________________________________________________________________________

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________________________________________________________________ (3 marks)
NAME OF STUDENT:
Page 4 of 9
b. The figure below illustrates one of the chicken houses used by some poultry farmers. Use it
to answer questions b (i), (ii) and (iii).

i. Identify the poultry house shown above.

____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

ii. Mention any two construction materials used for the construction of the chicken house
mentioned above.
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iii. Give any two advantages of the chicken house identified in b (i) above.
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22. a. Give any two importances of budgeting in a farm enterprise.
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b. (i) Define the term “labour” as a factor of production.
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(ii) Table below is showing farm inputs for cotton and broiler. Use it to answer questions
thereafter. The first inputs have been done already.

Inputs for cotton farm Inputs for broiler farm

seeds feeds

Fill in any other two remaining inputs for cotton and broiler farms respectively. (4 marks)
NAME OF STUDENT:
Page 5 of 9
23. Classify the following: Compost manure, 23:21:0, Farmyard manure, Urea and Calcium
Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) into organic and inorganic fertilisers. (5 marks)

Organic fertilisers Inorganic fertiliser

24. Form two students conducted an experiment on composition of soil and came up with the
following; 20-25% Air, 3-5% Organic matter, 45-50% Mineral matter and 20-25% Water.
Present the information given above in form of a pie-chart. (4 marks)

25. a. State any two advantages of indigenous vegetables over exotic vegetables.
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b. Give any two activities involved in caring for transplanted seedlings in a vegetable garden.
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26. a. State the two categories of crop pests.

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b. Give any two factors that limit participation of women in agricultural production.
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NAME OF STUDENT:
Page 6 of 9
Study the diagram below and use it to answer the questions that follow.

27. a. Name the parts labelled A, B, C and D

A: ___________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
B: ___________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
C: ___________________________________________________________ (1 marks)
D: ___________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
b. List any two characteristics of part labelled B.
________________________________________________________________________
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Figure 3 shows maize attacked by a pest in a maize field. Use it to answer the questions below.

28. a. (i) Identify the pest attacking the maize plant.

_______________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
(ii) Mention any two parts commonly attacked by the pest mentioned in 28. a. (i) above.
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NAME OF STUDENT:
Page 7 of 9
b. (i) State any two cultural practices of preventing the pest attack.
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(ii) Name one chemical used to control the pest mentioned in 28 a. (i) above
_______________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

c. Name any two stomachs of a ruminant animals (livestock).

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_________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)

29. State any two ways in which air influences crop production.
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30. State any two sources of funds for a poultry enterprise.
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)

SECTION C (30 marks)

• Answer all the questions in essay form on the spaces provided.

31. Explain any five factors to consider when selecting a site for a vegetable garden.

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32. Describe any five terms and conditions stipulated by financial institutions when providing their
loans to farmers.
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33. Explain any five importances of agricultural marketing to the growing population.

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END OF QUESTION PAPER.