a) Name and explain three factors of production in agriculture [12 marks] (b) Mention four functions of a farm manager [4 marks]

Answer Details

(a) Three factors of production in agriculture

1. Land: the natural resource on which farming takes place. It provides the soil, water and space for crops and livestock, and its reward is rent. Its supply is fixed and its quality varies from place to place.
2. Labour: the human effort, both physical and mental, applied to production, such as clearing, planting, weeding and management. Its reward is wages/salary. Labour may be skilled or unskilled, family or hired.
3. Capital: all man-made assets used to aid production, such as tools, machines, farm buildings, seeds, fertilisers and money. Its reward is interest. Capital increases the efficiency and output of the farm.

(A fourth factor, management (entrepreneur), which organises the other three and whose reward is profit, is also accepted.)

(b) Four functions of a farm manager

1. Planning the farm operations and deciding what, when and how to produce.
2. Organising and coordinating the land, labour and capital of the farm.
3. Directing and supervising farm workers and operations.
4. Keeping farm records and marketing the farm produce (and controlling finances).