Agriculture Reports

Agriculture Reports

16.0 AGRICULTURE (443)

The year 2010 K.C.S.E Agriculture Examination consisted of three papers, Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3. The three papers tested the candidates competence in understanding the agricultural principles, concepts and practices as stipulated in the syllabus. A wide range of knowledge and skills was tested in order to bring out the different abilities of the candidates. The format of the three papers is as follows:

Paper 1 (443/1): This is a theory paper that covers General Agriculture, Crop Production, Agriculture
Economics and Soil and Water Conservation. It has three sections, A, B and C, which are marked out of
30, 20 and 40 marks respectively.

Paper 2 (443/2) It is also a theory paper but covers Livestock Production, Farm Power, Farm Machinery, Farm Structures and Farm Tools and Equipment. It has three sections, A, B and C, which are also marked out of 30, 20 and 40 marks respectively.

Paper 3 (443/3): This is a project paper with two project questions, Project A and B. In 20010, Project A required candidates to rear chicken while B was on production of tomato/maize/sorghum/millet. Candidates selected and carried out only one of the two projects. The paper is scored out of 100 marks.

16.1 CANDIDATES OVERALL PERFORMANCE

The table below shows the general performance of candidates in the year 2010 KCSE Agriculture Examination. Performance in the previous four years has been included for comparison.
Table 21: Candidates overall performance in Agriculture for the last four years

Year	Paper	Candidature	Maximum Score	Mean Score	Standard Deviation
2010	1 2 Overall	140,237	90 90 180	24.82 36.07 67.96	11.58 15.07 27.12
2009	1 2 Overall	137,217	90 90 180	33.54 34.91 77.67	15.10 13.49 29.12
2008	1 2 Overall	134,039	90 90 180	32.32 25.59 67.1	15.11 11.64 27.32
2007	1 2 Overall	121,193	90 90 180	26.94 53.98 87.34	12.04 16.89 28.00

The following observations can be made from the summary in the table:

16.1.1 Candidates performance in Agriculture dropped. This is shown by the drop in the general mean scores
for the two papers. Paper 1(443/1) mean score dropped from 33.54 in the year 2009 to 24.82 in the
year 2010. However the mean score for Paper 2 (443/2) improved from 34.91 in the year 2009 to 36.07
in the year 2010.

16.1.2 The candidates overall performance significantly went down as shown by the subject mean score, which dropped from 77.67 in the year 2009 to 67.98 in the year 2010.

16.1.3 The overall standard deviation for the two papers dropped from 29.12 in the year 2009 to 27.12 in the year 2010. However the value of the standard deviation indicates that the two papers were able to discriminate candidates of different abilities.

16.1.4 The candidature increased from 137,217 in the year 2009 to 140,237 in the year 2010. A similar trend was also observed in the years 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006. This is a likely indication of increasing popularity of the subject in schools.

Analysis of Poorly Performed

Questions
The following is the analysis of the items that were poorly performed by candidates in the year 2010 KCSE Agriculture examination. This report highlights these questions and gives the expected responses. It also offers advice to teachers on the possible methodologies to emphasize during instruction.
 

16.2 PAPER 1(443/1)

Question 3
Give the meaning of the following terms:
a) phosphorus fixation in loss of soil fertility
The item was developed from the content on soil fertility. It required candidates to give the meaning of fixation as a method through which soil loses fertility (phosphorus).

WeaknessesMost candidates were unable to give the meaning of fixation as a method through which soil loses fertility.
Expected responses
Phosphorus availability to plants is lost when phosphorus ions in the soil combine with other elements to form compounds that cannot be absorbed by plants.
Advice to teachers
During instruction, teachers should emphasize and ensure that learners understand the technical terms used in agriculture.

Question 5
Explain the relationship between scarcity and choice as used in agricultural economics.
The question was derived from the topic, Agricultural Economics I (Basic Concepts and Farm Records). Candidates were expected to explain how scarcity relates to choice

WeaknessesMost candidates were unable to explain how scarcity relates to choice.

Expected responseScarcity is where production resources are limited in supply relative to demand; therefore a choicc has to be made on which enterprise(s) to allocate the limited resources.
Advice to teachers
During instruction, teachers should emphasize and ensure that learners understand the technical terms and concepts used in agriculture.

Question 21
On 1st January 2009, Kahuru Farm started fann operations with Ksh 30,000 cash. During the month, the farm made the following transactions. Study the transactions and prepare a cash analysis for Kaburu Farm for the month of January.

05/0 1/09
08/01/09
15/Ol/9
20/01/09
25/01/09
30/01/09
3 [/0 1/09
31/01/09
 

Livestock sales Crop sales Bought seed for planting Paid K PA. for fertilizer Bought livestock feeds Paid wages for planting & weeding
Received cash from K CC. for milk delivery
Paid transport charges for milk delivery
80,000
50,000
7,500
16,400
50,000
56,000
120.000
9,000

WeaknessesMost candidates were unable to answer the question correctly.

Expected responseKaburu Farm Cash Analysis for January 2009

Advice to teachers

Teachers should teach the entire syllabus. This area was tested for the first time and therefore most candidates and teachers did not expect it and may not have prepared for it.

16.3 PAPER 2 (443/2)

No poorly performed items were reported in this paper.

16.4 PAPER 3 (443J3 -PROJECT)

This is the agriculture project paper administered to provide an opportunity for the candidates to show and put into practice, the psychomotor skills acquired during the four years period in secondary school,

Candidates are tested in practical skills in the growing of a selected crop from Jand preparation to harvesting, rearing selected livestock to maturity or constructing a farm structure such as beehive, feed trough, rabbit hutch, compost pit/heap, among others.

The instructions are taken to schools, which then provide the required inputs for candidates to carry out the project work independently. The project takes eight months, from February to September of the given year.

In the year 2010, candidates chose between chicken rearing and production of tomato/maize/sorghum/millet. The agriculture teacher’s duty was to objectively assess and evaluate each candidate’s work at all the stages of project implementation.

Receipts (Sales And Receipts)

Expenditure (Purchases And Expenses)

 

16.5 GENERAL ADVICE TO TEACHERS

16.5.1 The whole syllabus should be effectively covered during instruction because examination items will be sampled from the entire syllabus.

165.2 The teacher/school should acquire the relevant reference materials and assist candidates to obtain and use the recommended textbooks.

16.5.3 The use of textbooks by teachers should always be guided by the syllabus. The specific objectives stipulated in the syllabus should be correctly interpreted to ensure the topics in question are taught adequately and effectively.

16.5.4 A variety of teaching methods and resources should be utilised by teachers to ensure that the content is effectively delivered during instruction. Resource persons/guest speakers and field visits should be arranged and used in areas where the teacher and the school lack the resources to teach the topic/lesson effectively.
16.5.5 All the suggested practical activities in the syllabus should be carried out to prepare candidates
adequately for questions that require application of psychomotor skills acquired during instruction.