All 50 questions from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Agricultural Science 2024 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.
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1. Which of the following land tenure systems allows a farmer to cultivate a piece of land in one growing season, at a fee?
Renting land typically involves paying a fee to use the land for a specified period, which can be as short as one growing season.
2. Agriculture could be made attractive to young people in West Africa through the A.
Making agriculture attractive to young people often involves improving quality of life and access to necessary services -- providing basic amenities in rural areas can make living and working in these regions more appealing.
3. Which of the following agricultural programmes was mainly established to provide agricultural extension services?
Agriculture Development Projects are geared towards providing agricultural extension services.
4. The following tools are used in nursery operations except A.
Nursery operation typically involves the use of tools that assist in planting and caring for young plants; the sickle is not typically a nursery tool.
5. A major difference between disc harrow and disc plough is that A. (Use the diagram illustrating a source of farm power to answer questions 6 and 7.)
A disc plough is designed for primary tillage and has two sets of discs arranged in pairs, which help in turning over the soil; a disc harrow, used for secondary tillage, typically has one set of discs that smoothens and breaks up soil clods after ploughing.
6. An advantage of using the power generated from the illustrated diagram is that it A.
What we have in the diagram is a windmill. It generates wind power. A key advantage is that wind energy can be harnessed in many locations where wind conditions are favourable, making it widely available.
7. The power generated from the illustrated diagram could be converted to A.
The windmill generates mechanical power from wind, which can be converted into electrical energy.
8. Gunter's chain is used for A.
Gunter's chain is a surveying instrument used for measuring distance. It is traditionally used in land surveying to measure distance accurately.
9. The chemical composition of soil is influenced by its A.
Soil composition is influenced by several factors, including parent material. The parent material from which the soil is derived greatly affects its chemical composition.
10. The ash produced after burning crop residues would A.
Ash generally contains basic compounds which can neutralize acids and decrease soil acidity.
11. A soil sample that contains predominantly mineral matter that are smaller than 0.002 mm in size is A.
Clay consists of very fine particles, smaller than 0.002mm. (The diagram illustrates a bag of compound fertilizer -- use it to answer questions 12 and 13.)
12. The least nutrient in the illustrated bag of fertilizer is A.
The fertilizer is NPK fertilizer, labelled 10-5-15, meaning it contains 10% nitrogen, 5% phosphorous and 15% potassium. Sulphur is not present in a significant proportion (reason why it is not listed).
13. Determine the quantity of potassium in the illustrated bag of fertilizer.
Since the fertilizer contains 15% potassium, the quantity of potassium in a 50kg bag = 15/100 x 50kg = 7.5kg. The closest value here is 8.3 kg.
14. The plant nutrient which is responsible for the green colour of leaves is A.
The green colour of leaves is due to chlorophyll content. Magnesium is an important component of chlorophyll.
15. In order to check erosion on a sloping land, farmers are advised to make A.
In order to check erosion on a sloping land, construction of ridges across the slope is advised. These ridges slow down water runoff and prevent soil from being washed away. (The diagram illustrates the root system of a crop -- use it to answer questions 16 to 18.)
16. An example of a crop with the illustrated root system is A.
Since what we have in the diagram is a taproot system, it is easy to associate it with plants like peas, beans and soyabeans.
17. A bacterium that could be found in the part labelled I is A.
The part labelled I is the root nodule. These nodules house nitrogen-fixing bacteria such as Rhizobium, which help in symbiotic nitrogen fixation.
18. Which of the following fertilizers would not be required by a crop with the illustrated root system?
Leguminous plants (with the illustrated taproot/nodulated system) do not require ammonium sulphate fertilizer because their nitrogen need has been catered for through symbiotic nitrogen fixation.
19. An important limitation in the use of sprinkler irrigation system is that A.
A major limitation in the use of sprinkler irrigation is that high wind velocity could prevent uniform distribution of irrigation water. While sprinkler irrigation does require a significant volume of water, this is not a limitation in areas with adequate water supply.
20. Which of the following characteristics is not associated with monocotyledonous crops?
Net venation is associated with dicotyledonous crops. Monocots exhibit parallel venation.
21. A crop that could be grown to serve as shade in a young cocoa plantation is A.
Banana, plantain and rubber tree are good examples of shade crops for cocoa.
22. Molasses is a major by-product obtained from the processing of A.
Molasses is a thick, dark liquid that is separated from the sugar crystals during the processing of sugar cane or sugar beets. (The diagram illustrates a storage structure for crops -- use it to answer questions 23 to 25.)
23. Which of the following crops are best preserved in the illustrated storage structure?
The storage structure shown is a traditional crib used for storing grains. Maize cobs are best preserved in such structures as they need good ventilation to prevent mould growth.
24. The function of the part labelled I is to A.
The part labelled 'I' is the elevation of the structure on stilts or pillars. This design helps in preventing attack by rodents and other ground-dwelling pests.
25. Which of the following environmental conditions would cause spoilage of crops stored in the illustrated structure?
High humidity induces moisture accumulation in stored crops. This causes mould growth and spoilage. Also, low temperature can worsen the situation.
26. The correct sequence of land preparation for the cultivation of yam is A.
The correct sequence is: Clearing -> Stumping -> Ploughing -> Harrowing -> Ridging.
27. Tenera is a cultivated variety of oil palm with A.
Tenera is a hybrid variety of oil palm derived from crossing Dura and Pisifera oil palms. Tenera has thick mesocarp, thin endocarp and a moderate sized kernel.
28. A farmer produced 25 tonnes of cocoa. If 16 bags of cocoa weigh one tonne and the cocoa was later sold at 350.00 per kilogramme (1 tonne = 1,000 kg). Determine the income realised by the farmer.
Total weight = 25 x 1000 kg = 25,000 kg. Since the price per kg is 350, total amount realized = 25,000 x 350 = 8,750,000.
29. Calculate the cost of one bag of cocoa.
There are 16 bags per tonne, so 25 tonnes contains 16x25=400 bags. Since total amount realized is 8,750,000, cost per bag = 8,750,000/400 = 21,875.
30. A disadvantage of selection as a method of crop improvement is that it A.
A disadvantage of selection as a method of crop improvement is that it increases the susceptibility of crops to pests.
31. Natural regeneration of forests may lead to A.
Trees grow at different rates and densities, leading to non-uniform forest stands. (The diagram illustrates the damage to a leaf caused by an insect pest of crops -- use it to answer questions 32 and 33.)
32. The damage to the illustrated leaf is most likely caused by A.
Many beetles chew holes in the leaves, leaving them with a ragged appearance. This is typical of beetles like the Japanese beetle and flea beetle.
33. The biological process that would mostly be affected in the leaf is A.
Since the leaf is the main organ for photosynthesis, the process that will chiefly be affected is photosynthesis.
34. The yield of oil palm could be reduced by infestation of A.
Caterpillar infestation can significantly reduce the yield of oil palm. Leaf miner caterpillar (Coelaenomenodera lameensis) is one example.
35. Breeds of sheep common in West Africa include A.
Uda and Yankasa are very common West African breeds. These breeds are well-adapted to the regional climate.
36. Low relative humidity in livestock pens would A.
Low humidity in livestock pens can lead to dry and irritated respiratory tracts, making animals more susceptible to disease.
37. A poultry farmer collects 100 trays of eggs per day on the farm. If the market price of a tray of eggs is 900.00, determine the income realized from the sale of eggs in one week.
Number of trays collected in a day = 100. In one week, we have 7x100=700 trays. As price of a tray is 900, total income = 700x900 = 630,000.
38. Which of the following statements is an advantage of pen mating?
In pen mating, a single male can mate with multiple females, which reduces the need for multiple breeding males and lowers the associated costs.
39. Pail feeding is commonly practised in the management of A.
Pail feeding typically involves feeding piglets milk (or milk replacer) using pails, especially in situations where the sow cannot adequately nurse all her piglets. (The diagram illustrates a management practice in poultry production -- use it to answer questions 40 to 42.)
40. The management practice illustrated in the diagram is A.
The management practice illustrated in the diagram is brooding. Brooding is the period after hatching during which the chicks are kept warm and provided with appropriate care until they are able to regulate their own body temperature.
41. Climatic factors that should be monitored during the management practice illustrated are temperature, II. daylength III. relative humidity
Temperature, relative humidity and daylength are all crucial for the health and growth of chicks during brooding.
42. The illustrated management practice is usually carried out in chicks from day old to A.
Brooding is usually carried out in chicks from day old to 6 weeks.
43. The meat from a tender calf is A.
Veal is the meat from young calves, typically around 3 to 16 weeks, known for its tender texture and mild flavour compared to beef from older cattle.
44. Which of the following groups of farm animals are caused by bacteria? A. Rinderpest, swine fever and trypanosomiasis B. Coccidiosis, Newcastle and fowl typhoid C. Fowl pox, mastitis and Gumboro D. Brucellosis, anthrax and tuberculosis
Brucellosis, tuberculosis and anthrax are all caused by bacteria.
45. If an animal is likely to succumb to the effects of a pathogen, the animal is said to be A.
An animal is said to be susceptible when it is likely to be affected by or vulnerable to a disease, infection or other harmful conditions.
46. Which of the following factors of production are affected by the law of diminishing returns? I. Land II. Labour III. Capital
All the factors of production can be affected by the law of diminishing return.
47. Which of the following changes would cause the demand curve to shift to the right? A. A reduction in the size of population B. An increase in income of the consumer C. Availability of close substitutes D. A decrease in the price of goods
For normal goods, an increase in consumer income will lead to higher demand. This shifts the demand curve to the right.
48. The function of a farm manager is to A.
A farm manager oversees daily operations, plans and organizes production, manages resources and supervises personnel.
49. Marginal cost could be described as the A.
Marginal cost is the additional cost incurred by producing one more unit of a good or service: MC = (change in Total Cost)/(change in quantity).
50. Farm gate price is mostly enjoyed by A.
Farm gate price refers to the price that farmers (producers) receive for their products at the point of sale, directly from their farm or production site.
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