Question 6
(a) Prepare the profit and loss account for Goodwill Farms for the year ended
31st December 2012 using the following information:
D
Opening valuation 600,000.00
Cost of land preparation 50,000.00
Cost of maize seeds 30,000.00
Cost of fertilizers 25,000.00
Wages to workers 50,000.00
Sales of maize cobs 500,000.00
Maize consumed by farmer 20,000.00
Closing valuation 400,000.00
(11 marks)
(b) State four problems of agricultural extension in West Africa. (4 marks)
(c) Give three reasons why farmers should control weeds on the farm. (3 marks)
Observation
Many candidates who attempted Question 6(a) prepared a cash book instead of a
profit and loss account; thus losing marks. Some candidates also misinterpreted
Question 6(c)
The expected answers include:
6. (a)
(b) Problems of agricultural extension in West Africa
- Inadequate farm input
- Inadequate transport facilities
- Inadequate motivation of extension agents
- Poor supervision of farmers
- Poor communication system
- Ignorance of the customs and traditions of local communities
- Inadequate extension agents
- Illiteracy among farmers
- Language barrier
- Inadequate monitoring of extension agents
- Conservative attitude of farmers
- Inadequate funding of extension programme
- Corruption among extension workers
- Bureaucracy in government services
- Poor social amenities in rural areas
- Poor service delivery by extension agents
(c) Reasons why farmers should control weeds on the farm
Weeds
- compete with crops for space, nutrients and sunlight
- harbour crop pests
- harbour crop diseases/pathogens
- reduce crop yield
- reduce the quality of crops
- reduce the income of farmers
- reduce the palatability of some grasses and legumes
- may be toxic to farm animals
- increase farmers’ cost of production