Genuinexplorer.com

WAEC Syllabus for Agricultural science

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

PREAMBLE

This syllabus has been designed to portray Agricultural Science as an applied science with emphasis on the acquisition of knowledge and skills associated with the content. A general review of the Junior Secondary School Agricultural Science syllabus is presumed.

Candidates will be expected to answer questions on all the topics set out in the column headed syllabus. The notes therein are intended to indicate the scope of the questions which will be set, but they are not to be considered as an exhaustive list of limitations and illustration.

Every school offering Agricultural Science must:

(i)       establish a farm where crops are grown;

(ii)     keep at least one species of ruminant  and one non ruminant;

(iii)   establish a fish pond where feasible.

Candidates should have practical notebooks which should contain records of individual activities based on laboratory and individual observations carried out on the school farms, field trips and also records of specimens collected. In order to enhance effective teaching/learning process and better performance of candidates, continuous assessment of candidates is recommended.

Since the main objectives of the Senior Secondary School Agricultural Science Curriculum are to:

(i)                  stimulate and sustain students’ interest in agriculture;

(ii)            enable students acquire functional knowledge and practical skills to prepare them for further studies and occupation in agriculture;

it is recommended that the study of Agricultural Science in the Senior Secondary School be supplemented by visits to well established government and private experimental and commercial farms, agricultural research institutes and other institutions related to agriculture.

EXAMINATION SCHEME

There will be three papers: Papers 1, 2 and 3 all of which must be taken. Papers 1 and 2 will be a composite paper to be taken at one sitting.

PAPER 1:         Will consist of fifty multiple choice questions to be answered within 50 minutes for 50 marks.

1

PAPER 2:           Will consist of six essay questions with each drawn from at least two themes in the syllabus. Candidates will be required to answer five of the questions within 2 hours 10 minutes for 90 marks.

PAPER 3:         Will be a practical paper for school candidates and alternative to practical paper for private candidates. It will consist of four questions, all of which should be answered within 1½ hours for 60 marks.

DETAILED    SYLLABUS

CONTENTS

NOTES

A.      BASIC CONCEPTS

1.        Meaning and importance of agriculture

(a)    Definition and branches of agricultural science.

(b)   Importance of agriculture to the individual, community and nation.

2.      Problems of agricultural development and possible solutions

(a)      Problems related to:

(i)                 land tenure;

(ii)               basic amenities;

(iii)	finance;	Assessment would include
(iv)	transportation;	incidence of pests and diseases,
(v)	storage and processing facilities;	vagaries of weather, labour and
(vi)	agricultural education and	government policy.
	extension;

(vii)           tools and machinery;

(viii)         farm inputs;

(ix)             marketing system;

(x)               environmental degradation.

(b)   Possible solutions to identified problems

3.      Meaning and differences between subsistence and commercial agriculture

(a)      Meaning of subsistence and commercial agriculture.

(b)   Differences between subsistence and commercial agriculture based on their characteristics.

2

(c)    Advantages and disadvantages of subsistence and commercial agriculture.

(d)   Problems of subsistence and commercial agriculture.

4.      Roles of government in agricultural development

(a)      Agricultural finance:

(i)           credit;

(ii)         subsidy.

(b)   Agricultural education

(c)    Agricultural extension services.

(d)   Agricultural policies and programmes

5.      Role of non-governmental organizations in agricultural development

(a)    Meaning of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

(b)    Roles of NGOs in agricultural development.

6.

7.      Agricultural laws and reforms

(a)      Land tenure systems in West Africa.

(b)   Government laws on land use in West

Assessment would cover past and present programmes e.g. OFN, ADP, Farm Settlement, Agricultural Sector Rehabilitation Project (ASRP) and National Aids Coordination Secretariat.

Examples of NGOs West African Rice Development Association (WARDA), International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA), International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) would be assessed.

3

Africa.
(c) Advantages and disadvantages of the land	Assessment would include land
use Act (Decree) and reforms in West	use Act (Decree), Land Reforms
Africa.	in West Africa.

B.      AGRICULTURAL ECOLOGY

1.        Meaning and importance of agricultural ecology

(a)    Meaning of agricultural ecology and ecosystem.

(b)   Components of farm ecosystem e.g. biotic and abiotic

(c)    Interactions of the components in the

terrestrial and aquatic agro-ecosystem.	Interaction of farm crops/animals
	with other components of the
	ecosystem in farm settings such
	as mono or sole cropping system,
	mixed cropping system, mixed
	farming system, fish ponds and
	forest (rain or savannah) would be
	assessed.

2.      Land and its uses

(a)      Meaning of land.

(b)   Characteristics of land – free gift of nature, immobile, limited in supply etc.

(c)    Uses of land:

(i)                 agricultural purposes:

-	crop production;	Assessment would include of uses
-	wild life conservation/game	of land for  aquaculture, forestry
	reserve;	and apiculture.

-          livestock production etc.

(ii)	non-agricultural purposes:		Non-agricultural uses of land such
	-	industry;	as health centres, church/mosque,
	-	housing;	mining, recreational centres,
	-	transport etc.	schools and markets would be
			assessed.

3.      Factors affecting land availability for agricultural purpose

(a)      Physical factors:

(i)                 soil type;

(ii)               topography;

4

(iii)             land degradation;

(iv)             soil pollution.

(b)   Economic factors:

(i)                 population pressure;

(ii)               expansion of industries;

(iii)             mining/mineral exploitation;

(iv)             recreation/tourism.

(c)    Socio-cultural factors:

(i)                 land tenure system;

(ii)               religious purpose (church, mosque and shrine) etc.

4.      Agro-allied industries and relationship between agriculture and industry

(a)    Agro-based industries and  raw materials:    Assessment would include other

(i)	paper industry – pulp wood;		agro-based industries and raw
(ii)	beverage industry –	cocoa,   tea etc;	materials e.g. leather industry –
(iii)	textile industry – cotton;		hides and skin, canning industry –
(iv)	soap industry – oil,	seeds	meat and fish.
	etc.
(b)  Relationship between		agriculture
and industries:
(i)	Agriculture provides market for		Assessment would include other
	industrial products e.g. farm		relationship between agriculture
	machinery, chemicals;		and industries.

(ii)               Agriculture provides food for industrial workers.

5.      Environmental factors affecting crop and animal distribution and production

(a)    Climatic factors e.g. rainfall, temperature, light, wind, relative humidity.

5

(b)   Biotic factors e.g. predators, parasites, soil micro-organisms, pests, pathogens and weeds; interrelationship such as competition, parasitism, mutualism (symbiosis).

(c)    Edaphic factors:

soil pH, soil texture, soil structure, soil type etc.

6.      Rock formation

(a)      Types of rock:

(i)	igneous;	Assessment would cover
(ii)	sedimentary;	identification, description and
(iii) metamorphic.		examples of rock types.
(b) Processes of rock formation.		Assessment would cover how
		igneous, sedimentary and
		metamorphic rocks are formed.

7.      Soil formation and profile development

(a)      Factors of soil formation: the parent rock,

organisms, climate, topography and time.

(b) Processes of soil formation:

The role played by each factor in soil formation would be assessed.

(i)           physical weathering;

(ii)          chemical weathering.

(c) Soil profile development.

8.   Types, composition and properties of soil

The meaning, importance, identification and description of each horizon of the soil profile would be assessed.

(a)    Types of soil.

(b)   Chemical and biological composition of

soil:		Assessment would cover types of
(i)	soil macro and micro nutrients;	soil and their separation into sand,
(ii)	soil water;	silt and clay fractions, water
(iii)	soil macro-organisms;	holding capacity, porosity,
(iv)	soil microbes;	capillarity, consistency etc.

(v)               soil air.

(c) Soil pH.		Determination of soil pH, causes
(d) Physical properties of soil:		and correction of soil
(i)	soil texture;	acidity/alkalinity would be
(ii)	soil structure;	assessed.
CONTENTS			NOTES
		6

9.  Plant nutrients and nutrient cycle
(a)  Macro and micro nutrients;  their functions and	Macro-nutrients such as
deficiency symptoms in crops.	N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S and
(b) Factors affecting availability of nutrients in soil	Micro–nutrients such as
such as pH, excess of other nutrients, leaching,	Zn, Fe, Mo, Co, Bo, Cu
crop removal, oxidation and burning.	would be assessed.

(c)    Methods of replenishing lost nutrients, e.g. crop rotation, organic manuring, fertilizer application,

fallowing, liming, cover-cropping.	Types of fertilizers and
(d) Nitrogen, carbon, water and phosphorus cycles.	methods of fertilizer
	application would be
(e) Organic agriculture – meaning and importance.	assessed.
10. Irrigation	Assessment would include
(a) Meaning of irrigation system.	the description and
(b) Types of irrigation systems:	importance of nitrogen,
(i)overhead e.g. sprinkler;	carbon and water cycles.

(ii)         surface e.g. flooding, furrow/channel, basin, border;

(iii)       underground e.g. perforated pipes, drips.

(c)    Advantages and disadvantages of irrigation systems.

(d)   Importance of irrigation.

(e)    Problems associated with irrigation.

11.  Drainage

(a)      Meaning of drainage.

(b)     Importance of drainage.

(c)      Types of drainage systems:

(i)           surface drainage e.g.channel, furrow;

(ii)         subsurface/underground drainage.

(d)   Advantages and disadvantages of drainage systems.

7

12.  Agricultural pollution

(a)    Meaning of agricultural pollution.

(b)    Causes/sources of pollution of agricultural lands and fish ponds:

(i)           excessive application of agricultural chemicals;

(ii)         marine and oil spillage;

(iii)       livestock waste and dung disposal etc.

(c)    Effects of land/pond pollution on farmers and agricultural productivity.

C. AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING/MECHANIZATION

1.        Simple farm tools

(a)    Meaning of simple farm tools.

(b)   Types of simple farm tools

-          cutlass, hoe, spade, shovel etc.

(c)    General maintenance of simple farm tools.

2.      Farm machinery and implements

(a)      Farm machinery:

(i)           tractor;

(ii)         bulldozer;

(iii)       shellers;

(iv)       dryers;

(v)         incubators;

(vi)       milking machines;

(vii)     combine harvester etc.

(b)   Tractor-coupled implements:

(i)           ploughs;

(ii)         harrows;

(iii)       ridgers;

(iv)       planters;

(v)         harvesters;

(vi)       sprayers etc.

Ways of minimizing land/pond pollution would be assessed.

Assessment would include identification, description and uses of each of the tools.

Assessment would include

the meaning,

uses/functions and

identification of different

parts of each of the farm

machinery and

implements. Engineering

details are however not

required.

3.   Maintenance practices and precautionary measures

(a) Reasons for maintaining farm         machines.

(b) Maintenance of farm machinery:

8

(i)           check water and oil levels regularly;

(ii)         carry out routine service;

(iii)       keep machines clean etc.

4.      Agricultural mechanization

(a)    Meaning of agricultural mechanization.

(b)   Mechanized agricultural operations.

(c)    Advantages and disadvantages of agricultural mechanization.

(d)   Limitations of agricultural mechanization.

5.      Prospects of agricultural mechanization

6.      Farm power

(a)    Sources of farm power.

(b)    Advantages and disadvantages of different sources of farm power.

7.      Farm surveying

(a)    Meaning of farm surveying.

(b)   Common survey equipment.

(c)    Uses of farm survey equipment.

(d)   Maintenance of farm survey equipment.

(e)    Importance of farm surveying.

8.      Farm planning

(a)    Meaning of farm planning.

(b)   Factors to be considered in farm planning.

(c)    Importance of farm planning.

Assessment would include precautionary measures in the use of farm machinery.

Mechanized agricultural operations: ploughing, harrowing, planting, harvesting, milking etc would be assessed.

Possible ways of improving agricultural mechanization such as developing less expensive machines and establishing agricultural engineering schools for personnel would be assessed.

Engineering details are not required.

9.  Principles of farmstead planning	Assessment would cover
(a) Meaning of farmstead.	site selection, location of
(b) Importance of farmstead planning.	structures and sketching
9

(c)    Factors to be considered in the design of a farmstead.

(d)   Farmstead layout.

D.    CROP PRODUCTION

1.        Classification of crops

(a)    Classification of crops based on their uses e.g. cereals, pulses, roots and tubers, vegetables.

(b)    Classification based on their life cycle e.g. annual, biennial, perennial, ephemeral.

(c)    Classification based on their morphology e.g. monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous crops.

2.      Husbandry of selected crops:-

botanical names and common names of the crop, varieties/types, climatic and soil requirements, land preparation, methods of propagation, planting date, seed rate, spacing, sowing depth and nursery requirements, cultural practices: supplying, thinning, manuring and fertilizer requirement and application, weeding, pests and disease control, harvesting, processing and storage of at least one representative crop from each of the following crop groupings:

(a)    Cereals e.g. maize, rice, guinea corn, millet;

(b)   Pulses (grain legumes) e.g. cowpea, soya bean, pigeon pea.

of farm layout.

A general knowledge of husbandry of all the crops listed is presumed.

(c)    Roots and tubers e.g. cassava, yam, potatoes;

(d)   Vegetables e.g. tomatoes, onion, amaranthus, okro, cauliflower, spinach;

(e)    Fruits e.g. citrus, banana, pineapple;

(f)    Beverages e.g. cocoa, tea, coffee;

10

(g) Spices e.g. pepper, ginger;
(h) Oils e.g. groundnut, sheabutter, sunflower, oil
	palm;
(i)	Fibres e.g. cotton, jute, sissal hemp;
(j)	Latex e.g. rubber;
(k) Others – sugar cane etc.
3.  Pasture and forage crops
(a)  Meaning of pasture and forage crops.		Assessment would include
(b) Uses of forage crops.
		the botanical names and
(c) Types of pasture.
		characteristics of common
(d) Common grasses and legumes used for grazing
		grasses and legumes used
	livestock.
		for grazing livestock.

(e)    Factors affecting the distribution and productivity of pasture.

(f)    Establishment of pasture.

(g)   Management practices of pasture.

4.	Crop improvement	Assessment would include
		the meaning of crop
	(a) Aims of crop improvement.
		improvement.
	(b) Methods/processes of crop improvement e.g.
		Definition of some genetic
	introduction, selection, breeding.
		terms: characters or traits,
	(c) Mendel’s laws of inheritance.
		chromosomes, genes,
	(d) Advantages and disadvantages of crop
		Mendel’s 1st and 2nd laws
	improvement.
		would be assessed.
E.  FORESTRY
1.	Forest management
	(a) Meaning of forest and forestry.
	(b) Importance of forestry.
	(c) Forest regulations.
	(d) Forest management practices.
	(e) Implications of deforestation.

CONTENTS		NOTES
2.  Agro-forestry practices in West Africa
(a)  Meaning of agro-forestry.
(b) Agro-forestry practices:		Common tree species
(i)	taungya system;	suitable for agro-forestry
(ii)	alley cropping;	practices would be
	11

(iii)  ley farming etc.

assessed.

F.    ORNAMENTAL PLANTS

1.        Meaning and importance of ornamental plants

(a)    Meaning of ornamental plants.

(b)   Importance of ornamental plants.

2.      Common types of ornamental plants

(a)      Types of ornamental plants according to their

uses:		Assessment would cover
(i)	bedding plants (mostly  flowering plants);	identification of various
(ii)	hedging plants;	types of ornamental
(iii)	lawn grasses etc.	plants.

(b) Examples of ornamental plants.

3.      Settings and location for planting ornamental plants.

		The common and
4.  Methods of cultivating ornamental plants:		botanical names would be
(i)	by seed;	assessed.

(ii)               vegetative propagation.

5.	Maintenance of ornamental plants.		Importance of each
			method and examples of
			ornamental plants
			propagated through such
G.  CROP PROTECTION			method would be
1.	Diseases of crops		assessed.
	(a) Meaning of disease
	(b) General effects of diseases on crop production.		Reasons for carrying out
	(c) Disease: causal organism,	economic	maintenance operations:
	importance, mode of		watering, mulching,
	transmission, symptoms,	prevention and	pruning etc would be
	control		assessed.

CONTENTS

NOTES

measures of the diseases of the following crops:

(i)                 cereals – smut, rice blast, leaf rust etc;

(ii)               legumes – cercospora leaf spot, rosette etc;

(iii)             beverages – cocoa blackpod, swollen

12

shoot, coffee leaf rust etc;

(iv)             tubers – cassava mosaic, bacterial leaf blight etc;

(v)               fruits- citrus gummosis, dieback etc

(vi)             fibre – black arm/bacterial blight of cotton etc;

(vii)           vegetables – root knot of tomato or okro, damping off, onion twister etc;

(viii)         stored produce – mould etc.

2.      Pests of crops

(a)    Meaning of pests.

(b)   Classification of pests:

(i)         insect-pests;

(ii)       non-insect pests.

(c)    Classification of insect-pests based on mouth parts with examples:

(i)       biting and chewing;

(ii)     piercing and sucking;

(iii)     boring.

(d)   Important insect-pests of major crops;

field and storage pests, life cycle, economic importance, nature of damage, preventive and control measures of the following major insect-pests of crops:

(i)         cereals – stem borer, army worm, ear worm etc;

Assessment would include at least two fungal, two viral, two bacterial and one nematode diseases of the crops chosen from the list.

CONTENTS		NOTES
(ii)	legumes – pod borer, aphids, sucking bugs
	and leaf beetle;
(iii) beverages – cocoa myrids (capsids);
(iv)	tubers – yam beetle, cassava mealybugs,
	green spidermites, variegated grasshopper;
	13

(v)       fibre – cotton stainer, bollworms;

(vi)     fruits and vegetables – thrips, grasshopper, leaf roller, leaf beetle, scale insect;

(vii)   stored produce – grain weevils, bean beetle.

(e)    Non-insect pests e.g. birds, rodents etc.

(f)    Side effects of preventive and control methods:

(i)         chemical – pollution, poisoning;

(ii)       biological - disruption of the ecosystem etc;

(iii)     cultural – harmful effects of burning etc.

(g)   General effects/economic importance of pests.

3.        Weeds

(a)    Meaning of weeds.

(b)   Types of weeds.

(c)    Effects of weeds on crops and economy.

(d)   Characteristic features of weeds.

(e)    Methods of controlling weeds: cultural, biological, chemical, physical and mechanical methods.

Nature of damage, economic importance, preventive and control measures of each of the non-insect pests would be assessed

Common and botanical names would be assessed.

14

H.   ANIMAL PRODUCTION

1.      Types and classification of farm animals

(a)    Types of farm animals: cattle, sheep, goat, poultry, pig, rabbit, fish etc.

(b)  Classification of farm animals     according to:

(i)   habitat – terrestrial and   aquatic.

(ii)  uses – food, protection, pet             etc.

2.      Anatomy and physiology of farm animals

(a)    Parts of farm animals.

(b)   Organs of farm animals e.g. heart, liver, lungs.

(c)  Systems of farm animals e.g.

digestive system, circulatory                system,

respiratory system.

3.      Animal reproduction

(a)    Meaning of reproduction.

(b)   Roles of hormones in reproduction of farm animals.

(c)    Reproductive systems of farm animals.

(d)   Processes of reproduction in farm animals.

(e)    Egg formation in poultry.

4.        Environmental physiology

(a)    Meaning of environmental physiology.

(b)   Effects of changes in climatic factors such as:

(i)       temperature;

(ii)     relative humidity; and

(iii)   light on:

growth, reproduction, milk production, egg

production etc.

Drawing and labeling of parts of farm animals would be assessed. Identification of important organs and their functions would be assessed.

Assessment would include the digestive system of poultry, differences between the monogastric and ruminant digestive systems.

Assessment would include oestrus cycle, heat period, mating, gestation period, parturition, lactation, colostrum, mammary glands, signs of heat, ovulation etc.

15

CONTENTS		NOTES
5.	Livestock management
	(a)  Meaning of livestock management.
	(b) Requirements for livestock management:	Assessment would include
	housing; feeding; hygiene and finishing of at least	extensive, intensive and
	one ruminant and one non-ruminant from birth to	semi-intensive systems of
	market weight.	management and record
	(c) Importance of management practices.	keeping in livestock
		management.
6.	Animal nutrition	The biochemical details of
	(a) Meaning of animal nutrition.	the nutrients are not
	(b) Classification of feeds.	required.
	(c) Sources and functions of feed nutrients.
	(d) Types of ration/diet and their uses; components of	Assessment would include
	a balanced diet, production and maintenance	the types of diet for the
	rations.	various classes of animals,
		their characteristics and
	(e) Causes and symptoms of malnutrition and their	supplementary feeding.
	correction in farm animals.	Assessment would include
		malnutrition related
7.  Rangeland and pasture management		conditions such as ketosis,
	(a)  Meaning and importance of rangeland/pasture to	rickets.
	livestock and the characteristics of range land.
	(b) Common grasses and legumes  in rangeland.
	(c) Factors affecting the level of production of
	herbage; rainfall, grass/legume composition,
	grazing etc.
	(d) Methods of rangeland and    pasture
	improvement:
	controlled stocking, rotational grazing, use of
	fertilizers, introduction of legumes, reseeding,
	weed control, burning,  pest and disease control.

16

CONTENTS

NOTES

8.      Animal improvement

(a)    Meaning of animal improvement.

(b) Aims of animal improvement.		Assessment would include
(c) Methods of animal improvement:		differences and
(i)	introduction;	similarities between
(ii)	selection;	breeds (local, exotic and
(iii) breeding.		cross/hybrid) and
(d) Artificial insemination.		performance of animals.

(i)         meaning of artificial insemination.

(ii)       methods of collecting semen.

(iii)     advantages and disadvantages of artificial insemination.

9.      Animal health management

(a)    Meaning of disease.

(b)   Causal organisms: viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa.

(c)    Factors that could predispose animals to diseases: health status of animals, nutrition, management etc.

(d)   Reaction of animals to diseases: susceptibility and resistance to diseases.

(e)    Causal organisms, symptoms, mode of transmission, effects, prevention and control of the following selected livestock diseases:

(i)       viral-foot and mouth, rinderpest, newcastle;

(ii)     bacterial – anthrax,

	brucellosis, tuberculosis;
(iii)	fungal – aspergillosis, ringworm, scabies;
(iv)	protozoa – trypanosomiasis, coccidiosis.	The economic importance
		of the diseases would be
		assessed.

17

CONTENTS

NOTES

(f)    Parasites.

(i)       meaning of parasite.

(ii)     types of parasites.

(iii)    mode of transmission, life cycle, economic importance and control of the following selected livestock parasites:

endoparasites – tapeworm, liverfluke and roundworm;

ectoparasites – ticks, lice.

(g)   General methods of prevention and control of diseases and parasites:

quarantine, inoculation/immunization, hygiene, breeding for resistance etc.

10.  Aquaculture

(a)    Meaning of aquaculture.

(b)   Different types of aquaculture:

(i)       fish farming;

(ii)     shrimp farming;

(iii)     crab farming.

(c)    Meaning and importance of fish farming.

(d) Conditions necessary for siting	Assessment would include
a fish pond.
	aeration, stocking,
(e) Establishment and maintenance of fish pond.
	feeding, harvesting,
(f)  Fishery regulations – meaning  and regulations.	processing and
	preservation of fish.
(g) Fishing methods and tools.

18

CONTENTS

NOTES

11.  Apiculture or bee keeping

(a)    Meaning of apiculture or bee keeping.

(b)   Types of bees:

(i)     indigenous bees;

(ii)   exotic bees.

(c)    Importance of bee keeping.

(d)   Methods of bee keeping:

(i)       traditional method;

(ii)     modern bee keeping.

(e)    Bee keeping equipment:

bee hives, hive tools like suits, smokers, jungle boots, brushes etc.

(f)    Precautionary measures in bee keeping:

(i)     locate apiaries far from human dwellings;

(ii)   put warning symbols near

apiary etc.

I.  AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND   EXTENSION

1.        Basic economic principles:

(a)  scarcity;

(b)   choice;

(c)  scale of preference;

(d)  law of diminishing returns.

2.      Factors of production:

(a)    land;

(b)     capital;

(c)  labour – characteristics and

classification;

(d) management or entrepreneur.

3.   Principles of demand

(a) Definition of demand.

(b) Law of demand.

(c) Factors affecting demand for

agricultural produce.

Rural-urban migration and

how it affects labour

availability in agricultural

production would be

assessed.

19

CONTENTS

NOTES

(d)   Movements along the demand curve.

(e)    Shifts in the demand curve.

4.      Principles of supply

(a)    Definition of supply.

(b)   Law of supply.

(c)    Movements along supply curve.

(d)   Shifts in the supply curve.

(e)    Factors affecting the supply of agricultural produce.

5.      Implications of demand and supply for agricultural production

(a)    Price support.

(b)   Price control.

(c)    Subsidy programme and its effects on agricultural production.

6.      Functions of a farm manager

(a)    Meaning of a farm manager.

(b)   Functions of a farm manager.

	Assessment would include the
7.  Problems faced by farm managers	meaning of farm management

8.      Agricultural finance

(a)      Meaning of agricultural finance.

(b)   Importance of agricultural finance.

(c)    Sources of farm finance.

(d)   Classes of farm credit:

(i)     classification based on length of time:

-       short-term credit;

-       medium term credit;

-       long-term credit.

(ii)   classification based on source of credit:

-    institutional credit;

-    non-institutional credit.

(iii)    classification based on liquidity:

-     loan in-cash;

-    loan in-kind.

20

CONTENTS

NOTES

(e)    Problems faced by farmers in procuring agricultural credit.

-       high interest rate;

-       lack or inadequate collateral etc.

(f)    Problems faced by institutions in granting loans to farmers:

	- lack of records and	accounts etc.
(g)	Capital market.
(i)	meaning of capital market,
	institutions that deal with medium
	and long term loans for agricultural		Assessment would include the
	business.
			meaning of agri-business.

(ii)   institutions involved in the capital market

(iii)    sources of funds for the capital market:

-       bonds;

-       insurance companies;

-       merchant banks;

-       the stock exchange (sales and purchases of shares).

(iv)   roles of capital markets in agricultural business:

-       mobilization of long term funds for on-lending;

-       reduce over reliance on money market etc.

9.      Farm records and accounts

(a)    Importance of farm records.

(b)   Types of farm records:

(i)       inventory records;

(ii)     production records;

(iii) income and expenditure    records;

(iv)                 supplementary or special

records.

(c) Designing farm records

21

CONTENTS

NOTES

(d)          Farm accounts:

(i)	expenditure/ purchases  account;	Assessment would include terms
(ii)	income/sales account;	such as salvage value, appreciation,
(iii) profit and loss account;		farm budget, depreciation, inventory,
(iv) balance sheet.		their importance and their uses in
		calculating profit and loss of farm
		items like crops, livestock, farm
		machinery and tools in the farm.

10.  Marketing of agricultural produce

(a)    Meaning and importance of marketing of agricultural produce.

(b) Marketing agents and their functions.	Advantages and disadvantages of the
(c) Marketing functions:	marketing agents would be assessed.

(i)       assembling;

(ii)     transportation;

(iii)   processing etc.

(d)   Marketing of export crops.

(e)    Export crops in West Africa.

(f)    Guidelines for exporting crops in West Africa.

(g)   Corporate bodies, cooperative societies and individuals engaged in exporting agricultural produce e.g ANCE - Association of Nigerian Cooperative Exporters.

(h)   Importance of exporting agricultural produce.

(i)     Problems of marketing agricultural produce .

11.  Agricultural insurance

(a)    Meaning of agricultural insurance.

(b)   Importance of agricultural insurance.

(c)    Types of insurance policies for agricultural production:

(i)         specific enterprise insurance e.g. crop insurance, livestock insurance;

22

CONTENTS

NOTES

(ii)     farm vehicle insurance;

(iii)    fire disaster insurance or machines and buildings insurance;

(iv)     life assurance (farmers, farm workers and farmers’ household).

(d)   Insurance premium

(e)    Problems of agricultural insurance: - uncertainties of weather;

-   losses due to natural disaster etc.

12.  Agricultural extension

(a)    Meaning and importance of agricultural extension

(b) Agricultural extension methods:

(i)  individual contact methods;

(ii) group contact methods etc.

(c)   Agricultural extension

programmes in West Africa e.g ADP,

NDE, Agro-service centres, state

ministries of agriculture and natural

resources

Qualities of a good extension worker would be assessed.

(d)   Problems of agricultural extension in West Africa. e.g. illiteracy among farmers, inadequate transport facilities etc.

23

CONTENTS		NOTES
PRACTICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE		Soil samples are to be examined for
A.  AGRICULTURAL ECOLOGY		texture by manual feeling of wet and
1.	Soil	dry soil.
		Examination of fertile and infertile
		soils and note distinguishing features
		of soils – colour, texture and
		structure, presence of organic matter
		and living things.
2.	Soil profile	Simple description and identification
		of soil profile would be assessed.
3.	Rocks	Identification of common rock types:
		igneous, sedimentary and
		metamorphic would be assessed.

4.      Laboratory work on physical properties of soil.

(a)    Mechanical analysis by sedimentation and also by use of hydrometer method or sieves

(b)   Determination of bulk density and total pore space.

(c)    Determination of moisture content of a moist soil sample.

(d)   Determination of maximum water holding capacity.

(e)    Determination of wilting point.

(f)    Determination of capillary action.

5.      Laboratory work on chemical properties of soil.

(a)    Determination of soil acidity using pH meter and/or any other gadget or simple equipment.

(b)     Common types of chemical

fertilizers.	Identification, methods  and rates of
	application of nitrogen, phosphorus,
	potassium and compound fertilizers
	would be assessed.

24

	(d) Organic manure:	Identification, method of preparation
	(i)  green manure;	and application of compost would be
	(ii) farm yard;	assessed.
	(iii) compost.
6.	Irrigation and drainage	Identification and uses of irrigation
		and drainage equipment e.g.
B.  AGRICULTURAL		watering can, sprinkler, pump, pipes
ENGINEERING/MECHANIZATION		would be assessed.
1.	Farm tools and equipment	Assessment would include
		identification, description, uses and
		maintenance of various garden tools
		and equipment e.g. hoe, cutlass,
		garden trowel, hand fork, shovel,
		spade, rake, sickle, secateurs, shears,
		long handle hoe, pruner, budding
		knife, emasculator.
2.	Tractor and animal drawn implement	Assessment would include
		identification, description, uses and
		maintenance of tractor and animal-
		drawn implements e.g. ploughs,
		harrows, ridgers, planters,
		cultivators; identification of the
		major parts of the implements and
		their functions.
3.  Harvesting, processing and storage		Assessment would include
	equipment.	identification, description and uses
		of harvesting, processing and storage
		equipment e.g. dehuskers, shellers,
		winnowers, dryers, processors,
		graters, refrigerators, cutlasses,
		scythe, groundnut lifters.
4.	Farm tractor	Identification of the major
		components of the farm tractor,
		servicing and maintenance would be
		assessed.
5.  Uses and maintenance of horticultural tools		Identification, uses and maintenance
	and implements.	of the following horticultural tools:
		shears, dibber, pruning knife,
		secateurs, budding knife, measuring
		tapes, hand fork, hand trowel, hoe,
		fork would be assessed.
6.	Livestock and fishing equipment	Identification, description, uses and
		care of livestock and fishing
	25

		equipment e.g. waterers, feeders,
		milking machines, nets, hook and
		line, branding machine, egg candler
		would be assessed.
7.	Farm surveying equipment	Assessment would include
		identification, uses, and care of
		simple surveying equipment e.g.
		measuring tape, pins or arrows,
		ranging poles, plum bob, offset staff,
		compass, gunter’s chains, pegs,
		theodolite.
C.  CROP PRODUCTION
		Identification of seeds, seedlings,
1.    Seeds, seedlings, fruits and		fruits, storage organs and essential
	storage organs of crops.	parts of the common crop plants,
		pasture grasses and legumes would
		be assessed.
2.	Main pests and diseases of crops	Assessment would include
		identification and control of the main
		field and storage pests e.g. cotton
		stainer, yam beetles, weevils etc and
		the damage they cause to crops;
		identification of main diseases of
		crops, their causal agents and
		characteristic symptoms, prevention
		and control.

3.      Planting dates, seed rates, plant population and seed quality tests of the more common local crop plants.

4.      Preparation of seedbeds, fertilizer application, mulching, use of pesticides , watering, vegetative propagation, germination tests etc.

5.      Forest products and by-products.

6.	Methods of propagation of horticultural	Assessment would include the
	plants.	following propagation methods –
		direct sowing, transplanting,
		layering, grafting and budding.
7.	Common weeds	External features, mode of dispersal
		and methods of controlling weeds on
		the farm would be assessed.
	26

D.  ANIMAL PRODUCTION
1.  Common breeds of animals and types of	Identification of breeds, methods of
	restraints, handling and grooming of
animals available in the locality.
	farm animals would be assessed.
2.  Major internal organs of farm animals, e.g.	Assessment would cover
organs of the digestive system,	identification and functions of the
reproductive and excretory systems.	major internal organs.
3.  Animal by-products	Identification of animal by-products
	e.g. hides and skin, fur, feather, horn
	would be assessed.
4.  Animal feeds and feed stuffs and their	Assessment would cover the
	identification and uses of feeds and
local sources.
	feed stuffs(e.g. fish meal, groundnut
	cake, rice bran); types of diets/ration.
5.  Main pests and parasites of farm animals.	Assessment would cover
	identification of common
	ectoparasites(e.g. ticks, lice) and
	endoparasites(e.g tapeworms, liver
	flukes, roundworms); the damage
	caused on their hosts and their
	control; and their life cycles.
6.  Diseases of farm animals.	Methods of prevention and control
	of diseases of farm animals, e.g.
	drugging, drenching, dipping,
	spraying and simple methods of farm
7.  Routine management practices in farm	sanitation would be assessed.
	Assessment would cover the
animals, e.g. selection of livestock and
	identification of equipment/tools
poultry for breeding, culling, ear-notching,
	used for routine management
tattooing, horn or skin branding,
	practices.
debeaking, dehorning, castration.
8.  Fish harvesting and preservation.	Methods of harvesting, processing
	and
	preservation of fish would be
	assessed.

27