ZIMSEC AGRICULTURE QUESTION PAPERS II, COMPILATION PREPARED BY MATHEW MUDERERE

ZIMSEC AGRICULTURE QUESTION PAPERS II, 2003-2012 COMPILATION
PREPARED BY MATHEW MUDERERE

CELL ...0772106567
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2003................

1. EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF CAMPFIRE............4
 Encourages the particitation by the community
 Empower the community to manage their resources/improve
infrastructure
 Improve the living standards of the rural communities
 Creat employment brings in foreign currency source
2. DEFINE THE FOLLOWING TERMS
a. BIODIVERITY....variety of living organisms
b. HABITAT........where an organism live
3. EXPLAIN THE EFFECT OF EXCEEDING THE CARRING CAPACITY OF
GAME PARKS
 Competition for resources
 Damanging of ecosystem
 Extinction of some species due to competition
 Increase conflict with man
 Diseases outbreak
 Soil erosion/overgrazing
4. EXPLAIN THE EFFECTS ORGANIC MATTER ON SOIL
a. SOIL CONSERVATION........binds the soil together,improve
aeration/infiltration,improves drainage,acts as mulch
b. WATER CONSERVATION........improves water holding
capacity,minimises surface run off,increases water
infiltration,acts as mulch
5. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF EARLY PLANTING UNDER DRY LAND
FARMING.......4
 Extend the length of growing season
 Plants take advantages of high early summer temperatures
 Helps in weed control
 Plants grow before pest/diseases builds up
 Yields are increased
 Grain filling period lengthened
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,ZIMSEC AGRICULTURE QUESTION PAPERS II, 2003-2012 COMPILATION
PREPARED BY MATHEW MUDERERE

CELL ...0772106567
...............................................................................................................
6. STATE THE FACTORS THAT FARMERS CONSIDER WHEN DETERMINING
OPTIMUMU PLANT POPULATION..............3
 Type of crop
 Stature of the variety
 Climate condition
 Soil fertility
 Availability of irrigation
 Availability of inputs-seedsand fertilizers
7. LIST DISADVANTAGE OF ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION........3
 New varieties can not be produced
 Planting material isbulky
 Not easy to transport
 Lack of diseases resistant
 Loss of the whole crop in time of natural disaster/drought/diseases
 Planting operation is labour intensive
8. EXPLAIN WITH EXAMPLES THE FOLLOWING TERMS...........
a. VARIABLE COSTS...cost which apply to individual menterprise
only,cost which nchange with scale of production
b. FIXED COST.......cost which apply to the farm as a whole,cost
which do not change with scale of production
c. UNCERTAINITY........unwanted happenings which a farmer has
no control over eg change in gorvenment policy
9. EXPLAIN HOW FARMERS CAN GUARD AGAINST RISK IN FARMING
BUSSINESS........3
 Maintain mflexibility
 Maintain reserves of food
 Use records or financial information
 Take insurance
10.WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF FARMING COOPERATIVES.........4
 Benefits from economics of large scale production
 Easy access to credits /loans
 Sharimg of overhead cost
 Eliminates middleman
 Easy dissemination of information
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,ZIMSEC AGRICULTURE QUESTION PAPERS II, 2003-2012 COMPILATION
PREPARED BY MATHEW MUDERERE

CELL ...0772106567

 Big bargaining power
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 Can memploy well trained/experienced staff
11.EXPLAIN HOW LEAVES ARE ADAPTED TO CARRY OUT
PHOTOSYTHESIS.......4
 Leaves are broad to provide lage surface area
 To allow fro easy diffusion of gases through short distances/trap
sunlight
 Many stomatas for gaseous exchange
 Many veins to supply water
 Palisade on the upper surface-highest number of chloroplast to
trap light
 Air spaces on the spongy mesophyll
12.WHAT FACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHEN PRODUCING FOR
MARKET.......4
 Size of the enterprise
 Level of production
 Seasonal production
 Length of production cycle
 Perishable goods
 Gluts
 Shortage/scarsity
 Gorvenment controls
 Quality of products or transport
 Supply,demand,price of product
13.EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF FARM BUDGET TO FARMERS.......2
 Choice of enterprice
 Level of production
 Availability of inputs
 Cost/take advantages of early purchase
 Calculate variable cost at the end
 Enable one to get loans
 Farmer plans ahead
 Assess feasibility of enterprise
14.DESCRIBE HOW CONTOUR RIDGES ARE MAINTAINED.......
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, ZIMSEC AGRICULTURE QUESTION PAPERS II, 2003-2012 COMPILATION
PREPARED BY MATHEW MUDERERE

CELL ...0772106567

 Remove silt/rebuilt crest
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 Remove stones/any foreign materials
 Cut trees or shrubs growing in the chanel
 Cut grass
15.LIST THE CAUSES OF DESTRUCTION OF WOODY VEGETATION IN
ZIMBABWE
 Construction materials
 Firewood/fuel
 Wild life pressure
 Grazing of livestocks/wild animals
 Veld fires
 Infrastructure/roads contruction/building
 Population pressure
 Droughts pest and diseases
 Need for agric lands
16.A FARMER PRODUCED 5 TONNES OF MAIZE DURING THE 2001 -2002
SEASON.GMB PRODUCE PRICE FOR THE MAIZE WAS $16
000/TONNE.THE TOTAL COST OF INPUTS ON THE MAIZE PROJECT
WAS $50 000.A BROILER ENTERPRISE GAVE THE FARMER A RETURN
OF $150 000 AFTER SPENDING $80 000.THE FARMER ALSO $25 000
ON RENTALS ,$20 000 ON TRACTOR REPAIRS AND $11 000 ON
INSURANCE

a. CALCULATE THE TOTAL VALUE OF PRODUCTION FOR
THE SEASON
 maize=5x16000=80 000
 broilers=150 000
 total=80 000+ 150 000=230 000
b. CALCULATE THE GROSS MARGIN FOR THE MAIZE AND
BROILER
 Maize=80 000-50 000=30 000
 Broilers=150 000-80 000=70 000
c. WHAT IS THE TOTAL GROSS MARGIN FOR THE FARM
30 000+70 000=100 000
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