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AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
PREAMBLE
This syllabus has been designed to portray Agricultural Science as an applied science with
emphasis on the acquisition of knowledge and skills associated with the content
...

Candidates will be expected to answer questions on all the topics set out in the column headed
syllabus
...

Every school offering Agricultural Science must:
(i) establish a farm where crops are grown;
(ii) keep at least one species of ruminant and one non ruminant;
(iii) establish a fish pond where feasible
...
In order to enhance effective teaching/learning
process and better performance of candidates, continuous assessment of candidates is
recommended
...

EXAMINATION SCHEME

There will be three papers: Papers 1, 2 and 3 all of which must be taken
...

PAPER 1:

Will consist of fifty multiple choice questions to be answered within 50
minutes for 50 marks
...
Candidates will be required to answer five of the
questions within 2 hours 10 minutes for 90 marks
...
It will consist of four questions, all of which
should be answered within 1½ hours for 60 marks
...
BASIC CONCEPTS
1
...

(b) Importance of agriculture to the
individual, community and nation
...
Problems of agricultural development and
possible solutions
(a) Problems related to:
(i)
land tenure;
(ii)
basic amenities;
(iii)
finance;
(iv)
transportation;
(v)
storage and processing facilities;
(vi)
agricultural education and
extension;
(vii) tools and machinery;
(viii) farm inputs;
(ix)
marketing system;
(x)
environmental degradation
...
Meaning and differences between
subsistence and commercial agriculture
(a) Meaning of subsistence and
commercial agriculture
...


2

Assessment would include
incidence of pests and diseases,
vagaries of weather, labour and
government policy
...

(d) Problems of subsistence and commercial
agriculture
...
Roles of government in agricultural
development
(a) Agricultural finance:
(i) credit;
(ii) subsidy
...

(d) Agricultural policies and programmes

Assessment would cover past
and present programmes e
...

OFN, ADP, Farm Settlement,
Agricultural Sector Rehabilitation
Project (ASRP) and National Aids
Coordination Secretariat
...
Role of non-governmental organizations in
agricultural development
Examples of NGOs West African
Rice Development Association
(WARDA), International Institute
for Tropical Agriculture (IITA),
International Livestock Centre
for Africa (ILCA), International
Crop Research Institute for SemiArid Tropics (ICRISAT) would be

(a) Meaning of non-governmental
organizations (NGOs)
...


6
...


7
...

(b) Government laws on land use in West
Africa
...


Assessment would include land
use Act (Decree), Land Reforms
in West Africa
...
AGRICULTURAL ECOLOGY
1
...

(b) Components of farm ecosystem e
...
biotic
and abiotic
(c) Interactions of the components in the
terrestrial and aquatic agro-ecosystem
...
Land and its uses
(a) Meaning of land
...


(b) Characteristics of land – free gift of
nature, immobile, limited in supply etc
...

(ii)

non-agricultural purposes:
- industry;
- housing;
4

Assessment would include of
uses of land for aquaculture,
forestry and apiculture
...


transport etc
...
Factors affecting land availability for
agricultural purpose
(a) Physical factors:
(i)
soil type;
(ii)
topography;
(iii)
land degradation;
(iv) soil pollution
...

(c) Socio-cultural factors:
(i)
land tenure system;
(ii)
religious purpose (church, mosque
and shrine) etc
...
Agro-allied industries and relationship
between agriculture and industry
(a) Agro-based industries and raw materials:
(i) paper industry – pulp wood;
(ii) beverage industry – cocoa, tea etc;
(iii) textile industry – cotton;
(iv) soap industry – oil, seeds
etc
...
g
...

5
...
g
...

5

Assessment would include other
agro-based industries and raw
materials e
...
leather industry –
hides and skin, canning industry
– meat and fish
...


(b) Biotic factors e
...
predators, parasites, soil
micro-organisms, pests, pathogens and
weeds; interrelationship such as
competition, parasitism, mutualism
(symbiosis)
...

6
...


Assessment would cover
identification, description and
examples of rock types
...


(b) Processes of rock formation
...
Soil formation and profile development
(a) Factors of soil formation: the parent rock,
organisms, climate, topography and time
...

(c) Soil profile development
...
Types, composition and properties of soil
(a) Types of soil
...


The meaning, importance,
identification and description of
each horizon of the soil profile
would be assessed
...


(ii)
soil water;
(iii)
soil macro-organisms;
(iv)
soil microbes;
(v)
soil air
...

(d) Physical properties of soil:
(i)
soil texture;
(ii)
soil structure;

Determination of soil pH, causes
and correction of soil
acidity/alkalinity would be
assessed
...
Plant nutrients and nutrient cycle
(a) Macro and micro nutrients; their functions and
deficiency symptoms in crops
...

(c) Methods of replenishing lost nutrients, e
...
crop
rotation, organic manuring, fertilizer application,
fallowing, liming, cover-cropping
...

(e) Organic agriculture – meaning and importance
...
Irrigation
(a) Meaning of irrigation system
...
g
...
g
...
g
...

(c) Advantages and disadvantages of irrigation
systems
...

(e) Problems associated with irrigation
...
Drainage
(a) Meaning of drainage
...

(c) Types of drainage systems:
(i) surface drainage e
...
channel, furrow;
(ii) subsurface/underground drainage
...


Types of fertilizers and
methods of fertilizer
application would be
assessed
...


(d) Advantages and disadvantages of drainage
systems
...
Agricultural pollution
(a) Meaning of agricultural pollution
...

(c) Effects of land/pond pollution on farmers and
agricultural productivity
...


C
...
Simple farm tools
(a) Meaning of simple farm tools
...

(c) General maintenance of simple farm tools
...
Farm machinery and implements
(a) Farm machinery:
(i) tractor;
(ii) bulldozer;
(iii) shellers;
(iv) dryers;
(v) incubators;
(vi) milking machines;
(vii) combine harvester etc
...


Assessment would include
the meaning,
uses/functions and
identification of different
parts of each of the farm
8

machinery and
implements
...


(b) Tractor-coupled implements:
(i) ploughs;
(ii) harrows;
(iii) ridgers;
(iv) planters;
(v) harvesters;
(vi) sprayers etc
...
Maintenance practices and precautionary measures
(a) Reasons for maintaining farm machines
...

4
...

(b) Mechanized agricultural operations
...

(d) Limitations of agricultural mechanization
...

Mechanized agricultural
operations: ploughing,
harrowing, planting,
harvesting, milking etc
would be assessed
...
Prospects of agricultural mechanization

6
...

(b) Advantages and disadvantages of different
sources of farm power
...
Farm surveying
(a) Meaning of farm surveying
...

(c) Uses of farm survey equipment
...

(e) Importance of farm surveying
...


8
...

(b) Factors to be considered in farm planning
...


Engineering details are
not required
...
Principles of farmstead planning
(a) Meaning of farmstead
...

(c) Factors to be considered in the design of a
farmstead
...


Assessment would cover
site selection, location of
structures and sketching
of farm layout
...
CROP PRODUCTION
1
...
g
...

(b) Classification based on their life cycle e
...
annual, husbandry of all the crops
listed is presumed
...

(c) Classification based on their morphology e
...

monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous crops
...
Husbandry of selected crops:botanical names and common names of the crop,
varieties/types, climatic and soil requirements, land
preparation, methods of propagation, planting date,
seed rate, spacing, sowing depth and nursery
requirements, cultural practices: supplying, thinning,
manuring and fertilizer requirement and application,
weeding, pests and disease control, harvesting,
processing and storage of at least one representative
crop from each of the following crop groupings:
(a) Cereals e
...
maize, rice, guinea corn, millet;
(b) Pulses (grain legumes) e
...

10

cowpea, soya bean, pigeon pea
...
g
...
g
...
g
...
g
...
g
...
g
...
g
...
g
...

3
...

(b) Uses of forage crops
...

(d) Common grasses and legumes used for grazing
livestock
...

(f) Establishment of pasture
...

4
...

(b) Methods/processes of crop improvement e
...

introduction, selection, breeding
...

(d) Advantages and disadvantages of crop
11

Assessment would include
the botanical names and
characteristics of common
grasses and legumes used
for grazing livestock
...

Definition of some genetic
terms: characters or
traits, chromosomes,
genes, Mendel’s 1st and

2nd laws would be
assessed
...

E
...
Forest management
(a) Meaning of forest and forestry
...

(c) Forest regulations
...

(e) Implications of deforestation
...
Agro-forestry practices in West Africa
(a) Meaning of agro-forestry
...


NOTES

Common tree species
suitable for agro-forestry
practices would be
assessed
...
ORNAMENTAL PLANTS
1
...

(b) Importance of ornamental plants
...
Common types of ornamental plants
(a) Types of ornamental plants according to their
uses:
(i) bedding plants (mostly flowering plants);
(ii) hedging plants;
(iii) lawn grasses etc
...


Assessment would cover
identification of various
types of ornamental
plants
...
Settings and location for planting ornamental plants
...
Methods of cultivating ornamental plants:
(i)
by seed;
12

The common and
botanical names would be
assessed
...


5
...


G
...
Diseases of crops
(a) Meaning of disease
(b) General effects of diseases on crop production
...

2
...

(b) Classification of pests:
(i) insect-pests;
(ii) non-insect pests
...

Reasons for carrying out
maintenance operations:
watering, mulching,
pruning etc would be
assessed
...


(iii) boring
...


NOTES

(e) Non-insect pests e
...
birds, rodents etc
...

(g) General effects/economic importance of pests
...
Weeds
(a) Meaning of weeds
...

14

(c) Effects of weeds on crops and economy
...

(e) Methods of controlling weeds: cultural,
biological, chemical, physical and mechanical
methods
...


15

H
...
Types and classification of farm animals
(a) Types of farm animals: cattle, sheep, goat,
poultry, pig, rabbit, fish etc
...

(ii) uses – food, protection, pet
etc
...
Anatomy and physiology of farm animals
(a) Parts of farm animals
...
g
...

(c) Systems of farm animals e
...

digestive system, circulatory
respiratory system
...

Identification of
important organs and
their functions would be
assessed
...
Animal reproduction
(a) Meaning of reproduction
...

(c) Reproductive systems of farm animals
...

(e) Egg formation in poultry
...


4
...

(b) Effects of changes in climatic factors such as:
(i) temperature;
(ii) relative humidity; and
(iii) light on:
growth, reproduction, milk production, egg
production etc
...


16

CONTENTS
5
...

(b) Requirements for livestock management:
housing; feeding; hygiene and finishing of at least
one ruminant and one non-ruminant from birth
to market weight
...

6
...

(b) Classification of feeds
...

(d) Types of ration/diet and their uses; components
of a balanced diet, production and maintenance
rations
...

7
...

(b) Common grasses and legumes in rangeland
...

(d) Methods of rangeland and pasture
improvement:
controlled stocking, rotational grazing, use of
fertilizers, introduction of legumes, reseeding,
weed control, burning, pest and disease control
...

The biochemical details of
the nutrients are not
required
...

Assessment would include
malnutrition related
conditions such as ketosis,
rickets
...
Animal improvement
(a) Meaning of animal improvement
...

(c) Methods of animal improvement:
(i) introduction;
(ii) selection;
(iii) breeding
...

(i) meaning of artificial insemination
...

(iii) advantages and disadvantages of artificial
insemination
...


9
...

(b) Causal organisms: viruses, bacteria, fungi and
protozoa
...

(d) Reaction of animals to diseases: susceptibility
and resistance to diseases
...


18

The economic importance
of the diseases would be
assessed
...

(i) meaning of parasite
...

(iii) mode of transmission, life cycle, economic
importance and control of the following
selected livestock parasites:
endoparasites – tapeworm, liverfluke and
roundworm;
ectoparasites – ticks, lice
...

10
...

(b) Different types of aquaculture:
(i) fish farming;
(ii) shrimp farming;
(iii) crab farming
...

(d) Conditions necessary for siting
a fish pond
...

(f) Fishery regulations – meaning and regulations
...


19

NOTES

Assessment would include
aeration, stocking,
feeding, harvesting,
processing and
preservation of fish
...
Apiculture or bee keeping
(a) Meaning of apiculture or bee
keeping
...

(c) Importance of bee keeping
...

(e) Bee keeping equipment:
bee hives, hive tools like suits,
smokers, jungle boots, brushes
etc
...


NOTES

I
...
Basic economic principles:
(a) scarcity;
(b) choice;
(c) scale of preference;
(d) law of diminishing returns
...
Factors of production:
(a) land;
(b) capital;
(c) labour – characteristics and classification;
Rural-urban migration
and how it affects labour
availability in agricultural
production would be

(d) management or entrepreneur
...
Principles of demand
(a) Definition of demand
...


(b) Law of demand
...


CONTENTS
(d) Movements along the demand curve
...

4
...

(b) Law of supply
...

(d) Shifts in the supply curve
...


NOTES

5
...

(b) Price control
...

6
...

(b) Functions of a farm manager
...
Problems faced by farm managers
8
...

(b) Importance of agricultural finance
...

(d) Classes of farm credit:
(i) classification based on length of
time:
- short-term credit;
- medium term credit;
- long-term credit
...

(iii) classification based on liquidity:
- loan in-cash;
- loan in-kind
...

- high interest rate;
- lack or inadequate collateral etc
...

(g)
Capital market
...

meaning of agri-business
...

(iv) roles of capital markets in
agricultural business:
- mobilization of long term funds
for on-lending;
- reduce over reliance on money
market etc
...
Farm records and accounts
22

(a) Importance of farm records
...

(c) Designing farm records

CONTENTS

NOTES

(d) Farm accounts:
(i) expenditure/ purchases account;
(ii) income/sales account;
(iii) profit and loss account;
(iv) balance sheet
...


10
...

(b) Marketing agents and their functions
...

(ii) transportation;
(iii) processing etc
...

(e) Export crops in West Africa
...

(g) Corporate bodies, cooperative
societies and individuals engaged in
exporting agricultural produce e
...

(h) Importance of exporting agricultural
produce
...

11
...

(b) Importance of agricultural insurance
...
g
...

(d) Insurance premium
(e) Problems of agricultural insurance:
- uncertainties of weather;
- losses due to natural disaster etc
...
Agricultural extension
(a) Meaning and importance of
agricultural extension
Qualities of a good extension worker
(b) Agricultural extension methods:
would be assessed
...

(c) Agricultural extension
programmes in West Africa e
...
e
...
illiteracy among
farmers, inadequate transport facilities
etc
...
AGRICULTURAL ECOLOGY
1
...

Examination of fertile and infertile
soils and note distinguishing
features of soils – colour, texture
and structure, presence of organic
matter and living things
...
Soil profile

Simple description and identification
of soil profile would be assessed
...
Rocks

Identification of common rock
types: igneous, sedimentary and
metamorphic would be assessed
...
Laboratory work on physical properties of
soil
...

(c) Determination of moisture content of
25

a moist soil sample
...

(e) Determination of wilting point
...

5
...

(a) Determination of soil acidity using pH
meter and/or any other gadget or
simple equipment
...

application of nitrogen, phosphorus,
potassium and compound fertilizers
would be assessed
...


(d) Organic manure:
(i) green manure;
(ii) farm yard;
(iii) compost
...
Irrigation and drainage
B
...
Farm tools and equipment

2
...
g
...

Assessment would include
identification, description, uses and
maintenance of various garden tools
and equipment e
...
hoe, cutlass,
garden trowel, hand fork, shovel,
spade, rake, sickle, secateurs,
shears, long handle hoe, pruner,
budding knife, emasculator
...
g
...

Assessment would include
identification, description and uses
of harvesting, processing and
storage equipment e
...
dehuskers,
shellers, winnowers, dryers,
processors, graters, refrigerators,
cutlasses, scythe, groundnut lifters
...


3
...


4
...
Uses and maintenance of horticultural
tools and implements
...
Livestock and fishing equipment

Identification, uses and
maintenance of the following
horticultural tools: shears, dibber,
pruning knife, secateurs, budding
knife, measuring tapes, hand fork,
hand trowel, hoe, fork would be
assessed
...
g
...

Assessment would include
identification, uses, and care of
simple surveying equipment e
...

measuring tape, pins or arrows,
ranging poles, plum bob, offset staff,
compass, gunter’s chains, pegs,
theodolite
...
Farm surveying equipment

C
...


Identification of seeds, seedlings,
fruits, storage organs and essential
parts of the common crop plants,
pasture grasses and legumes would
be assessed
...


Assessment would include

2
...
g
...

3
...

4
...

5
...

6
...


7
...

External features, mode of dispersal
and methods of controlling weeds
on the farm would be assessed
...
ANIMAL PRODUCTION
1
...


Identification of breeds, methods of
restraints, handling and grooming of
farm animals would be assessed
...
Major internal organs of farm animals, e
...
Assessment would cover
organs of the digestive system,
identification and functions of the
reproductive and excretory systems
...

Identification of animal by-products
3
...
g
...

Assessment would cover the
4
...

feed stuffs(e
...
fish meal, groundnut
cake, rice bran); types of
5
...
diets/ration
...
g
...
g tapeworms, liver
flukes, roundworms); the damage
caused on their hosts and their
control; and their life cycles
...
Diseases of farm animals
...
Routine management practices in farm
animals, e
...
selection of livestock and
poultry for breeding, culling, ear-notching,
tattooing, horn or skin branding,
debeaking, dehorning, castration
...
g
...

Assessment would cover the
identification of equipment/tools
used for routine management
practices
...
Fish harvesting and preservation
...


29



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