Name of Student: _______________________________________________________________

ZINGWANGWA CLUSTER
2023/24 MSCE MOCK EXAMINATIONS

AGRICULTURE

Subject number: M012/I

Date: ______________ Time allowed: 2 hours
PAPER 1
(100 marks)
Theory
Instructions
1. This paper contains 10 printed pages.
Please check.
2. This paper has two sections, A and B.
Section A has ten questions; and section B
has three questions.
3. Write your name on top of each page.
NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS:
______________

Question Tick if Do not write in

Number answered these columns
1
2
3
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SECTION A (70 marks)

Answer all the questions in the spaced provided.

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NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS:
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1. a. State any two economic importance of mangoes.

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b. Give one reason for the failure of local Malawian mangoes to penetrate the international market.
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c. Mentions three methods of preserving pasture.
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2. a. State any two factors that influence puberty in livestock.

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b. What term is used to describe the condition when a pregnant animal has difficulties in giving
birth?
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c. Mention two possible causes of the condition mentioned in 2b above.
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3. a. How does each of the following practices help improve soil structure?
i. Cover cropping
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ii. Fallowing
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b. List any two biological control measures farmers use to control soil degradation.

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NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS:
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c. Describe any one effect of soil temperature on crop production.
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4. a. Describe any two negative impacts of farm mechanization on the environment.

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b. Figure 1 shows a source of farm power.

Figure 1
i. Name the source of farm power.
________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
ii. State two environmental advantages of this source of power.
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________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)

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NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS:
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5. a. Mention any two characteristics of products that have inelastic demand.

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b. Weekly supply of rice at Nkando Market dropped from 10000kg to 9000 kg when price
changed from K2000 to K1500 per kg.

i. Calculate the price elasticity of supply for the rice.

(4 marks)
ii. Draw a sketch supply curve to illustrate the elasticity.

(3 marks)
6. a. Outline any two qualities of a good site for mushroom production.
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b. Give any one way of controlling rodents in a mushroom house.

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NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS:
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______________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
c. A farmer practices mixed cropping by planting maize first and later planting beans between the
maize planting stations as the maize is about to mature.
i. What form of mixed cropping does the farmer practice?
________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
ii. Give any two challenges that may affect this cropping system.
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________ (2 marks)
iii. Mention any two factors that may have influenced the farmers’ choice of the cropping
system.
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________ (2 marks)

7. Figure 2 shows the mammary gland of a cow. Use it to answer the questions that follow.

Figure 2

a. Name the parts labelled Q and R.

Q. _________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
R. _________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
b. State one function for each of the parts labelled P and S.
P __________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
S __________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
c. Name the hormone which influences the functions of part labelled P.
____________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
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 NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS:
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8. a. Mention any two tree species that can be used in bio-drainage.

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_____________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)
b. State two characteristics that make the tree species mentioned in 8a above suitable for bio-
drainage.
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______________________________________________________________________(2 marks)
c. Give any two ways farmers can use to improve saline soils.
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)

9. a. State any two characteristics of a good goat house.

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________________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)
b. Mention the causes of the following diseases in cattle.
i. bloat
____________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
ii. milk fever
____________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
c. Give any two reasons why it is important to feed livestock.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)
d. Mention any two sources of water used in the animal’s body.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)

Page 7 of 11
 NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS:
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10. A vendor bought 4 bags of rice from a farmer in Zomba at the cost of K20,000.00 each. He then spent
K2,500.00 to transport each bag to Limbe where he also spent K750.00 per bag for storage. Finally, he
sold the rice to consumers at a profit of K6750.00 per bag.

a. Calculate the total marketing costs.

(4 marks)

b. Work out the price at which each bag was sold.

(2 marks)
c. Draw a marketing channel to illustrate the flow of the rice from farmer to consumers

(2 marks)
SECTION B (30 marks)
Write all your answers in an essay format
11. Describe any five importance of agricultural cooperatives.
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NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS:
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12. Describe any five ways in which improved farming technology promotes food security.
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NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS:
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13. Explain any five benefits of crop rotation.
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NAME: ________________________________________________________ CLASS:
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END OF QUESTION PAPER
NB: This paper contains 10 pages

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