CSEC Agricultural Science Paper 3 May/June 2021 - Free CXC Past Paper with Answers

Vikram operates a profitable two-hectare livestock farm. He rears mainly sheep and goats on lands that he bought five years ago. Vikram sells his meat to supermarkets, middlemen and schools. Recently, there has been frequent theft of the animals on the farm. This has caused major financial losses to Vikram. He is concerned that his farm is not physically secured and is in a remote location.

The police informs Vikram that they do not have enough officers to patrol the farming area. Vikram then meets with other farmers in the community and they have agreed to form a community watch group. The Ministry of Agriculture has recently purchased drones to assist the police with surveillance in Vikram’s community.

Using the case study above, complete a SWOT analysis for Vikram’s farm.

(i) Identify TWO 'strengths' of Vikram’s farm. (ii) Identify TWO 'weaknesses' of Vikram’s farm. (iii) Identify ONE 'opportunity' to address the challenges faced at Vikram’s farm. (iv) Identify ONE 'threat' to Vikram’s farm.

Identify TWO 'strengths' of Vikram’s farm.

Identify TWO 'weaknesses' of Vikram’s farm.

Identify ONE 'opportunity' to address the challenges faced at Vikram’s farm.

Identify ONE 'threat' to Vikram’s farm.

Farmer Stacy wants to sell fresh produce to an importer in another country. She is not sure what communication channel(s) should be used to contact the importer.

(i) Suggest TWO factors that would determine the selection of the communication channel used by Farmer Stacy to contact the importer. (ii) State TWO barriers to communication that Farmer Stacy may experience in contacting the importer.

Suggest TWO factors that would determine the selection of the communication channel used by Farmer Stacy to contact the importer.

State TWO barriers to communication that Farmer Stacy may experience in contacting the importer.

Figure 1 shows a common pest of sweet potatoes.

(i) Identify the pest shown in Figure 1. (ii) Suggest ONE method of controlling the pest shown in Figure 1.

Identify the pest shown in Figure 1.

Suggest ONE method of controlling the pest shown in Figure 1.

Farmer Mark produces sweet potatoes on his two-hectare farm, which he sells directly to a nearby hotel. The hotel complained that the last batch of sweet potato tubers were smaller than usual and that some were damaged.

Suggest ONE reason each why the sweet potato tubers were smaller than usual and damaged. Smaller tubers Damaged tubers

Smaller tubers

Damaged tubers

State TWO signs of maturity and readiness for the harvesting of sweet potatoes.

Recommend FOUR practices that Farmer Mark can employ to prevent damage to the sweet potato tubers during harvesting in the future.

List the THREE components of climate-smart agriculture.

Explain TWO examples of soil nutrient management strategies that Farmer Gordon can use in producing his crops, while conserving environmental resources.

Strategy Explanation Strategy Explanation

Advise Farmer Gordon on THREE climate-smart water conservation strategies he can use in the production of his crops to lower the risk of crop water stress and yield reduction.

On a recent field trip to Progressive Pig Farm, students saw rats feeding on the pig ration in the storeroom.

State ONE effect of rats on pig production.

State TWO mechanical methods of controlling rats on the farm.

The farm manager explained that the business was considering using biological methods to control the rats on the farm. State ONE reason why biological pest control is considered a good agricultural practice.

Farmer Deen is a dairy goat farmer. He observes when trying to milk one of his animals that the udder is hard, swollen, tender, and that the milk is watery with clots. The veterinarian visits his farm and diagnoses the animal as having mastitis.

Explain THREE management practices Farmer Deen can adopt to treat this animal.

Management practice Explanation Management practice Explanation Management practice Explanation

Farmer Asha is a large-scale pig farmer. She also slaughters and sells meat to supermarkets across the country. The extension officer advises her that she should expand her operations by making value-added products from the animal by-products and animal waste.

Identify TWO animal by-products that Farmer Asha can obtain from her animals to make value-added products.

State ONE value-added product that can be made from the animal by-products.

Farmer Asha is considering using the animal waste from her farm to make biogas. She attends a training workshop at the Ministry of Agriculture and is given a diagram outlining the steps she must follow in biogas production. Figure 2 shows an incomplete diagram of the steps to be followed.

Figure 2. Biogas production flow chart

Collection Channel Collection of animal waste and pen washings

$\downarrow$

Mixing Pit Physical breakdown and mixing of solids and liquids

$\downarrow$

A

$\downarrow$

Gas Holder Collection of biogas

$\downarrow$

Desulphurization Unit Removal of hydrogen sulphide in biogas

$\downarrow$

Pipes Transfer of gas in pipelines to be used on farm and at home

Identify the missing step labelled A in the flow chart on page 16.

Describe the process that takes place at the step labelled A.

Suggest ONE reason for the desulphurization of biogas.

Farmer Rose inherited a sheep farm from her uncle. She observes that the animals are reared intensively. The pens are hot and humid, and the animals usually stand in a thick layer of droppings. Farmer Rose wants to redesign the building to ensure that the animals are comfortable.

Advise Farmer Rose on the type of material she should use for the roof and floor of the sheep pens and give ONE reason for each recommendation.

Suggested roof material Reason

Suggested floor material Reason