EXAMINATION NO……………………………………………

ANSWER PRIVATE ACADEMY

2020 MALAWI SCHOOL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION
MOCK 2 EXAMINATION

AGRICULTURE
(100 marks)
Subject Number: M012/I
16, September 2020 Time Allowed: 2 hours
8:00 – 10:00 am
PAPER I

Question Tick if Do not write in

Number answered these columns
Instructions 1.
1. This paper contains 9 printed pages. Please
2.
check.
2. This paper has two sections, A and B. Section 3.
A has ten questions and section B, three
questions. 4.

3. Answer all questions in the spaces provided. 5.

4. Write your NAME on all pages.
6.
5. In the table provided on this page, tick
against the question number you have 7.
answered.
8.
6. At the end of the examination, hand in your
paper to the invigilator. 9.

10.

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12.

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Section A (70 marks)

Answer all the ten questions in this section

1(a) State the principle of substitution of inputs.

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(b) Explain one way in which the principle of substitution of inputs is important in farm
business management.
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2a. Explain one way in which each of the following stages of the scientific approach to
agricultural research are important.

i. Data analysis
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ii. Report writing.

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b. A researcher carried out a soil analysis on a farm. From the tests, it was found that the soil
lacked nitrogen. Use the information to answer the question that follows.

Name any one example of in organic fertilizer that can be recommended on this farm.
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c. The researcher carried out a further research to find out the best rate of fertilizer
application for maize production. The results are shown in the table 1 below. Use it to answer
questions that follow.

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Rate of fertilizer (kg/50m2) Maize yield (kg)

0 50
5 200
10 300
15 500
20 500
Table: 1

(i)What is the best rate of fertilizer that can be recommended on this farm?
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(ii) Give a reason for the answer to question 2c (i).

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d. Give any one source of power that can be used on this farm.
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3. Table 1 shows information on feed consumption and number of eggs produced for two
breeds of chicken. Use it to answer the questions that follow.

Day 1 2 3 4 5
Amount of feed 10 15 20 30 40
(Kg)
Number of eggs
produced

Breed A 60 80 90 100 100

Breed B 20 45 60 70 78

a. Name the type of record shown above.

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b. Explain any two reasons for keeping the record.

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c. Give any two factors to consider when selecting enterprise combination.

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4a. Give any two ways in which mushrooms are important.

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b. Mention any two qualities of a good site for mushroom production.

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c. Explain how to seed the substrate for mushrooms.

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d. Give any one way in which processing mushroom is important.

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5a. (i) Calculate seed rate for a legume pasture X using the following information.

 Germination percentage = 40 %.
 Purity of the seed = 60%.
 Expected plant population= 1200000 plants per hectare.
 Seed size = 400000 seeds per Kg

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(2 Marks)

b. Explain one way in which fixation can deplete plant nutrients in a vegetable garden.
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6a. A farmer observed the following symptoms in chickens.

 Bloody diarrhoea
 Many deaths in young chicks.

Use the information to answer questions that follow.

i. Identify the disease that attacked the chickens.

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ii. Give any two ways of controlling the disease named in 6a (i).
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b. Name any two types of chicken houses.

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c. Give any two factors to consider when selecting an appropriate breed of sheep for mutton.
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7a. Name any two sources of finance for agricultural production.

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b. Give any one difference between base interest rate and effective interest rate.
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(c) A farmer borrowed a loan of K800000 with a stated interest rate of 18% to be repaid
within one year.

i. Calculate effective interest.

(3 Marks)

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ii. Calculate amount of money the farmer would have paid at the end of one year.

(2 Marks)

8. Figure 1 shows a diagram of a crop pest. Use it to answer questions that follow.

(a) Identify the pest.

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(b) Describe crop losses caused by the crop pest named in 8 a.
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(c) Give any two ways of controlling the parasite named in 8 (a).
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9 (a). State any two examples of exotic breeds of pigs.
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b. State the age at puberty in pigs.

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c. Explain one way in which steaming up is important in pigs.
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10a. Describe how soil salinity can be determined using salinity meter.
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b. Explain any two effects of soil salinity on crop production.

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d.(i) Give any two types of soil structure.

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(ii). Explain any two ways of maintaining and improving soil structure.
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SECTION B (30 Marks)

Answer all three questions in this section.

11. Explain any five roles of channels and agencies in marketing of agricultural commodities.
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12. A teacher gave the students the following items.
 Two soil samples: Sandy soil and Clay soil
 Funnel
 Cotton wool
 Measuring cylinder
 Water
Describe an experiment that would be done to determine the water holding capacity of the
two soil samples and draw the expected results.
PROCEDURE
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EXPECTED RESULTS

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13. Explain any five ways in which integrated forest, fish and farm system can deal with
climate change.
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END OF QUESTION PAPER

@ ANSWER PRIVATE ACADEMY 2020

This paper contains 9 pages

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