Branches of Agriculture and Farming Systems
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Lesson overview
The main types of farming system practised.
Go to lesson quiz →Exam guidance · WAEC WASSCE Paper 1 + Paper 2 Lens
Pacing
Objective speed on Paper 1 + structured step-by-step method marks on Paper 2 Theory/Practical.
How WAEC marks this
Examiners award method marks (M1) for stating the formula/definition and accuracy marks (A1) ONLY when SI units are written.
Watch out for
Writing bare numbers without working or omitting SI units loses up to 50% of Paper 2 marks even when the final value is right.
Lesson content
Overview — Branches of Agriculture and Farming Systems
The main types of farming system practised. This lesson is at the beginner level — by the end, you'll be able to recognise this question type, apply a reliable method, and avoid the traps that cost marks.
Key Concept
Farming systems include subsistence farming (small-scale, primarily to feed the farmer's family, with little surplus for sale), commercial farming (large-scale, primarily for sale/profit), mixed farming (combining crop and animal production on the same farm), and monoculture (growing a single crop repeatedly on the same land).
Why It's Tested This Way
WAEC/JAMB test farming systems because the choice of system has real consequences for productivity, soil health, and income, and candidates are expected to compare systems rather than simply define them in isolation.
Method
When answering, be ready to compare two farming systems directly (for instance, subsistence versus commercial farming) on a specific dimension such as scale, purpose, or level of technology used.
Worked Example
Worked example: A subsistence farmer growing yam, cassava, and vegetables primarily to feed their own household, using simple tools and little external input, differs from a commercial farmer growing a single cash crop like oil palm across a large plantation specifically for sale, using mechanised equipment and purchased inputs.
Second Worked Example
Second worked example: A mixed farmer growing maize alongside keeping poultry can use crop residues to feed the animals and animal manure to fertilise the crops, illustrating a specific practical advantage of combining crop and animal production on one farm, unlike a pure monoculture system.
Common Traps
Common trap: assuming commercial farming is always better than subsistence farming — WAEC expects candidates to recognise each system's suitability depends on the farmer's specific resources, goals, and context, not that one system is universally superior.
Lesson Summary
Remember: (1) identify what is being asked, (2) apply the WAEC strategy, (3) check against the traps. Complete the 10-question quiz below to unlock the next lesson — you need at least 60% to pass.
Mastery Check · Lesson Quiz · pass 60%
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