What is agriculture?

KCSE Geography Paper 2 2013 Section B  Question 8.

(a)(i)What is agriculture?

• It is the practice of cultivating crops and rearing of livestock.

(ii)Identify four characteristics of plantation farming in Kenya.

• The holdings / farms are large/40 hectares and above.
• Ownership is by individuals / groups.
• Farming is scientifically managed.
• It requires heavy capital outlay.
• There is high yield per unit area.
• There is growing of a single crop/monoculture.
• Farms are highly mechanised.
• The produce is for commercial purpose.
• Some farms are labour intensive.

​(b)Give four physical factors that influence the growing of tea in Kenya.

• Undulating / gently sloping land / 1,500 to 2,400 metres above sea level/high attitude.
• Deep well drained soils/volcanic soils.
• Slightly acidic soils / pH of between 4 to 6.
• High annual rainfall / 1000 to 2000 mm of rainfall.
• Well distributed rainfall throughout the year.
• Moderte to high temperatures / average temperatures of 21℃/15-30C/warm to hot climate.

​(c)Explain four problems facing small scale tea farming in Kenya.

• Delayed payments to farmers mismanagement lowers their morale.
• Pests eg. thrips/spidermite/crecise mite/weaving/beatles destroy tea plants there by reducing quality / yields.
• Poor road networks in some tea growing areas leads to delay in collection of the harvested tea resulting into wastage / losses to farmers.
• High cost of farm inputs makes them unaffordable to the farmers leading to low yields / low profit margins.
• Climatic hazards / hailstone/drought/frost weather conditions lead to destruction of the crop thus lowering quality / quantity of leaf production.
• Fluctuations of tea prices in the world market leads to uncertainty in earnings making it difficult for farmers to plan ahead.
• Shortage of labour during tea picking season makes the hiring of labour expensive/lowering farmer income.
• Diseases eg. Amillaria/root rot kills the tea bushes/lower yields.
• Low payment to farmers lowers their morale.
• Poor marketing strategy leads to low earnings.

​(d)You plan to carry out a field study in a tea farm.
(i)Give four reasons why you need a route map for the study.

• To show the direction to be followed during the field study.
• To assist in estimating the time required for the study.
• To help in deciding the technique of data collection.
• To help in estimation of distances to be covered during the study.
• To help in drawing up a work schedule.

​(ii)What information are you likely to gather about marketing of processed tea during the study? 

•  Tea is marketed:
• Through factory door sales.
• Directly to local / overseas buyers.
• To Kenya Tea Packers Limited (KETEPA)/other packers.
• Through Mombasa Tea auction.

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