Name___________________________________________________________________________________________

MZUZU DIOCESE
2021 MSCE MOCK EXAMINATIONS

AGRICULTURE

Monday, 2 August Subject Number: M012/1

Time Allowed: 2 hours (7.30-9.30am)
PAPER 1
(100 Marks)
(Theory)

Instructions: Question Tick if Do not

1. This paper contains 12 pages. Please check Number Answered write in
these
2. Answer all ten questions in section A and all three margins
questions in section B. The maximum number of marks
1
for each answer is indicated against each question.
2
3. Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
3
4. Write your name and school on top of every page. 4
5
5. In the table provided on this page, tick against the
6
question number you have answered.
7
6. Hand in your paper to the invigilator at the end. 8
9
10
11
12
13
 Name __________________________________________________________________________________
Page 2 of 12

Section A (70 marks)

Answer all the ten questions in this section
1. a. Give any two ways in which inoculation of pasture seed is important.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
b. State the two main aims of crop improvement.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

(2 marks)

2. a. State any one way in which each of the following can reduce risks and uncertainties on
a farm.
i. Selecting a more reliable enterprise
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
ii. Input substitution

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

(1 mark)

b. State any two ways in which trading at national level can ensure food supply.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
 Name __________________________________________________________________________________
Page 3 of 12

c. Give any two methods of advertising agricultural products in highly populated areas.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
d. Explain any one disadvantage of an indirect marketing channel to the farmers.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
3. Explain any one way in which each of the following agricultural practices can help to
control soil degradation.
i. Afforestation
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
ii. Rotational grazing
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)

4. a. Give any two advantages of mushroom production.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
b. Mention any two sources of power for operating a ridger on a farm.
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________(2 marks)
 Name __________________________________________________________________________________
Page 4 of 12

c. A farmer wants to establish a grass pasture using the following information:

• Seed size = 300,000 seed/kg
• Purity% = 75%
• Germination = 85%
If the farmer expects to have 800,000 plants per hectare, calculate the seed rate of the
grass pasture.

(3 marks)

5. a. A farmer wants to get semen of a Friesian bull which is being raised in Tanzania with a
Friesian heifer being raised in Malawi.
i. Name the breeding system to be practiced.
__________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
ii. Give a reason for the answer
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
 Name __________________________________________________________________________________
Page 5 of 12

b. Explain any two ways in which livestock breeding can ensure food security for the
growing population
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
(4 marks)
c. State any one viral disease of cattle
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
d. Explain any two ways in which feeding layers is important
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
(4 marks)
6. a. Explain any one way in which each of the following activities is important in
agricultural research:
i. Observation and measuring plants in the net plots
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
Name __________________________________________________________________________________
Page 6 of 12

ii. Analysing data

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
b. Explain any one way in which variety trials in agriculture could ensure food security.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)

c. The following table shows a record of milk production in a cow on farm. Use it to
answer questions (i) and (ii).
Milk record in a cow
Time (months) Average amount of milk per day
(litres)
1 6
2 7
3 8
4 7
5 6
6 5.5
7 5
8 4.5
9 4
10 3.5
11 3
12 2.5
(i) Draw a milk lactation curve for milk yield against time.
 Name __________________________________________________________________________________
Page 7 of 12

(3 marks)

(ii) Use your graph to identify the time the milk is at peak.
_____________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
d. Mention any two pests which affect mango production.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
7. a. State any two straight fertilizers that can be used to correct deficiency of potassium.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
 Name __________________________________________________________________________________
Page 8 of 12

b. State any two habits which result into food insecurity in Malawi.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
8. a. Name any two disadvantages of extensive farming system.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
b. State any two forms of mixed cropping practiced in Malawi.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
9. a. Describe any one factor that affect the rate at which animals reach Puberty.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
b. Explain any two ways in which budgeting is important to a livestock farmer.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(4 marks)
 Name __________________________________________________________________________________
Page 9 of 12

c. Give any two risks and uncertainties affecting vegetable production.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)

10. The following figure shows a method of conserving soil. Use it to answer questions (i)
and (ii).

i. Name the method of soil conservation shown in this figure.

__________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
ii. State any one function for each of the parts labelled A and B.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)
 Name __________________________________________________________________________________
Page 10 of 12

Section B (30 marks)

Answer all the three questions in this section
11. Explain any five roles performed by agricultural marketing boards on marketing of
agricultural produce.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(10 marks)
 Name __________________________________________________________________________________
Page 11 of 12

12. Describe the phases in the oestrus cycle of a cow.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(10 marks)
 Name __________________________________________________________________________________
Page 12 of 12

13. A certain village community has the following resources at its disposal:
• Plenty of Stock feed
• A hatchery
• Fish pond
• White Leghorns
Assuming that you are an agricultural field assistant, explain any five pieces of advice
that you would give to this village commodity on how to fully utilize these available
resources in order to increase agricultural production.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(10 marks)
END OF QUESTION PAPER
This paper contains 12 pages. Please check.