AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
PAPER 2
GRADE 12 
NSC PAST PAPERS AND MEMOS
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017

MEMORANDUM 

SECTION A
QUESTION 1 
1.1

1.1.1 C ✔✔ 
1.1.2 D ✔✔ 
1.1.3 C ✔✔ 
1.1.4 C ✔✔ 
1.1.5 A ✔✔ 
1.1.6 A ✔✔ 
1.1.7 D ✔✔ 
1.1.8 A ✔✔ 
1.1.9 B ✔✔ 
1.1.10 B ✔✔ (10 x 2) (20) 

1.2

1.2.1E ✔✔ 
1.2.2 J ✔✔ 
1.2.3 B ✔✔ 
1.2.4 C ✔✔ 
1.2.5 A ✔✔ (5 x 2) (10) 

1.3

1.3.1Promotion/advertising ✔✔ 
1.3.2 Productivity ✔✔ 
1.3.3 Gene gun ✔✔ 
1.3.4 Genetic modification/engineering/GMO ✔✔
1.3.5 Qualitative characteristics ✔✔ (5 x 2) (10) 

1.4

1.4.1Standardisation ✔ 
1.4.2 Inventory ✔ 
1.4.3 Monohybrid ✔ 
1.4.4 Dominant ✔ 
1.4.5 Segregation ✔ (5 x 1) (5) 

TOTAL SECTION A: 45

SECTION B 
QUESTION 2: AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING 
2.1 Supply and demand for a particular agricultural product 
2.1.1 Identification of curves 

• A – Demand ✔ (1)
• B – Supply ✔ (1) 

2.1.2 Definition of equilibrium price 

• When the price of a product settles at the point where  demand ✔ 
• Is equal to supply ✔ (2) 

2.1.3 Explanation of the relationship between curves A and B with  price  

• The higher the price ✔ 
• The higher the supply ✔ 
• The lesser/lower the demand ✔
  OR 
• The lower/lesser the price ✔ 
• The lower the supply ✔ 
• The higher the demand ✔ (Any 1) (3)

2.2 Marketing channels are related to a free market system 
2.2.1 Matching of the marketing channels 

• A. Farm-gate marketing ✔ (1)
• B. Stock sales ✔ (1)
• C. Marketing with contract ✔ (1)
• D. Fresh produce market ✔ (1)
• E. Internet marketing ✔ (1) 

2.2.2 TWO disadvantages of a free marketing system to the farmer 

• Prices fluctuate ✔ 
• Market costs are high/takes place on a small scale ✔ 
• Producer is responsible for marketing and producing ✔ 
• Limited bargaining power ✔ 
• High risk as many things can go wrong ✔ 
• Cartels formed and consumers are exploited ✔ 
• Agents leads to smaller profits ✔ (Any 2) (2)

2.3 Flow chart of the path of products from the producer to the consumer
2.3.1 Identification of the letters representing the stages marketing 

1. Demand – E ✔ (1)
2. Supply – D ✔  (1) 

2.3.2 Factor that can hamper marketing between stages C and D 

• High marketing costs ✔ 
• Limited availability of transport/rail/poor access roads/ Infrastructure ✔ 
• Spoilage/perishability/accidents/theft/risk✔ (Any 1) (1)  

2.3.3 TWO guidelines for packaging at stage C 

• Identify and provide useful information about the produce ✔ 
• Enclose the produce in convenient units for handling ✔ 
• Ensure that the produce is protected from mechanical  damage ✔ 
• Packaging should not contain chemicals that could be toxic to  the produce ✔  
• Packaging must be recyclable ✔ (Any 2) (2) 

2.3.4 Factors determining the demand of peaches  

• Price of the product ✔ 
• Consumer income ✔ 
• Number of consumers ✔ 
• Taste/preference of consumers ✔ 
• Price of competing/complimentary commodities ✔ 
• Range/use of the products ✔ 
• Price expectations ✔ (Any 2) (2)

2.4 The quantity of butternuts bought at different prices 
2.4.1 Line graph to indicate the quantity and the price of butternuts  

Criteria/rubric/marking guidelines 

• Correct heading ✔ 
• Y-axis: correctly calibrated with label (price per bag) ✔ 
• X-axis: correctly calibrated with label (number sold) ✔ 
• Correct units (Rand and bags) ✔ 
• Accuracy ✔ 
• Line graph ✔ (6) 

2.4.2 The tendency in the price as the quantity of butternuts declines

• The price increases/higher/more ✔ (1) 

2.5 Different phases in the process of entrepreneurship 
2.5.1 Re-arrangement the entrepreneurial phases 

• C ✔ (1) 
• B ✔ (1) 
• D ✔ (1) 
• A ✔  (1) 

2.5.2 THREE problems that can be encountered with the phase of  planning 

• Insufficient research ✔ 
• Leaving gaps/being vague/providing too much information ✔
• Insufficient technical details ✔ 
• Unrealistic assumptions and projections ✔ 
• Not highlighting potential competition ✔ 
• Hiding weaknesses and risks ✔ 
• Using the incorrect format ✔ (Any 3) (3)

[35] 

QUESTION 3: PRODUCTION FACTORS  
3.1 Farming enterprise 
3.1.1 The interest the farmer will pay back  

• R190 000 x 0,125 (12,5%) ✔ 
• R23 750 ✔ (2) 

3.1.2 The profitability of the farming enterprise 

• Income – expenditure ✔ 
• R212 500 – R213 750 ✔ 
• = – R1 250 ✔ (3)

3.1.3 Recommendation for farmer to continue with a reason  

• Should not continue/not recommended ✔  (1)
  Reason 
• Not profitable/runs at a loss/deficit of R1 250/ – R1 250 ✔ (1) 

3.2 The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act 85 of 1993) 
3.2.1 Brief explanation of the intention of this Act  

• Aims to provide and regulate ✔ 
• Health/safety in the work place ✔ (2)

3.2.2 THREE guidelines for the farmer to comply with this legislation

• Protective clothing ✔ 
• Gloves ✔ 
• Footwear/gumboots ✔ 
• Goggles/eye protection ✔ 
• Dust masks ✔  
• Training on operating equipment/handling chemicals/apparatus✔ 
• Noise/ear protection ✔ (Any 3) (3)

3.3 Production factors are coordinated for effective agricultural production
3.3.1 Identification of each of the following 

1. Farm manager – A ✔  (1)
2. Farm labourer – C ✔  (1)
3. Movable capital – D/E ✔  (1)
4. Fixed capital – B/F ✔  (1) 

3.3.2 Management principle reflected with a reason  

• Supervision/Control/Coordination ✔  (1)
  REASON 
• Entrepreneur is supervising workers according to the plan ✔ (1) 

3.3.3 Entrepreneurial skills that are visible in the illustration above

• Planning/interpretation ✔ 
• Management skills ✔ 
• Organisational skills ✔ (3)

3.4 Different ways in which the farmer can improve land productivity 
3.4.1 Measures of improving land productivity  

1.  Improving soil fertility ✔ (1)
2. Consolidation of uneconomical farm units ✔ (1) 
3. Water management ✔ (1)
4. Scientific method ✔ (1) 

3.4.2 THREE economic functions of land 

• Source of wealth ✔ 
• Enables production of food/fibre/fuel/biotic materials ✔ 
• Physical space for settlement/industry/recreation/transport ✔ (3)

3.5 Record of a farming enterprise for a period of three months 
3.5.1 Identification of the farming records 

• Cash flow budget ✔ (1)

3.5.2 Items on the record to support the answer  

• Opening balance ✔ 
• Receipts/income/ ✔ 
• Payments/expenses✔ (Any 2) (2)  

3.5.3 Document to determine the net worth of the farming business Income statement ✔ (1) 
3.5.4 TWO benefits for the farmer to have a record  

• Shows the need for borrowing ✔ 
• Money available for investment ✔ 
• Money available to make purchases ✔ 
• Enough cash to meet the needs of the enterprise ✔ (Any 2) (2) 

3.5.5 The implication of negative net cash in March 

• Restricted cash flow ✔ 
• Need for borrowing money to meet the needs ✔ (Any 1) (1)

[35] 

QUESTION 4: BASIC AGRICULTURAL GENETICS  
4.1 Different breeding methods and technologies  
4.1.1 Identification of the breeding method  

1. Upgrading ✔ 
2. Inbreeding ✔
3. Crossbreeding ✔ (3)  

4.1.2 Methods to change the enterprise from commercial to stud  

• Upgrading ✔ (1) 

4.1.3 Breeding method that heterosis or hybrid vigour derives from 

• Crossbreeding ✔  (1) 

4.1.4 TWO disadvantages of crossbreeding  

• Required expert knowledge ✔ 
• Progeny is of poor quality ✔ 
• Destroys characteristics/more heterozygote’s ✔ (Any 2) (2)

4.2 The improvement of maize with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) 
4.2.1 TWO potential benefits of this GM crop 

• Environmental benefits/pest/insect resistance/use less  chemicals/less susceptible to diseases ✔ 
• Economic benefits/higher yields/production/mature quicker ✔  
• Health benefits/healthier/tastier/more nutritious foods ✔ (Any 2) (2)

4.2.2 TWO negative effects of GM crops on the environment

• Bt is only specific on certain classes of insects and still impacts on the environment ✔ 
• Indiscriminate use of weed killers can destroy useful plants ✔
• Insect resistant plants also kill beneficial insects ✔ 
• Production of super weeds ✔ (Any 2) (2) 

4.2.3 The technique using this bacterium to modify maize  

• The gene is incorporated into the maize plant where it produces  toxins ✔ 
• To protects the plant against the maize stalk borer✔  (2) 

4.3 The phenomenon of variation  
4.3.1 TWO benefits of variation in a breeding programme  

• Improving existing breeds/cultivars ✔ 
• Producing new breeds/cultivars ✔ (2) 

4.3.2 Two internal/genetic causes of variation 

• Mutations/recombination of genes/abnormalities ✔ 
• Translocation/duplication/inversion/ deletion/ crossing over/ omission of chromosomes ✔ 
• Meiosis ✔ (Any 2) (2) 

4.3.3 Difference between variation and selection  
Variation – is the phenomenon that refer to differences✔ in the  characteristics of individuals ✔ (2) 
Selection – is the process of choosing individuals ✔ with desirable characteristics to be used as parents ✔  (2) 

4.4 Brown coat colour in goats is dominant over that for white coat colour 
4.4.1 Genotypes of the individuals  

• 1 – Bb ✔ (1)
• 2 – Bb ✔ (1) 

4.4.2 Phenotypes of the offspring in the F1 generation labelled  

• 3 – Brown ✔ (1)
• 5 – Brown ✔ (1) 

4.4.3 The percentage of the F1 heterozygous for a brown coat colour 

• 50% ✔ (1) 

4.4.4 Coat colour of progeny if 6 is crossed with individual of similar  genetic compound with reason 

• White ✔ (1)
  Reason  
  
• Both are homozygous white/bb ✔ (1) 

4.5 White flowers (W) are crossed with red flowers (R)  
4.5.1 Punnett square method to illustrate the offspring of the F2 

 Punnett square ✔ (4) 

4.5.2 The type of dominance in QUESTION 4.5.1 

• Incomplete dominance ✔ (1) 

4.5.3 Reason for the answer in QUESTION 4.5.2 

• Intermediate colour/all the offspring are pink ✔ (1) 

4.5.4 The phenotypic ratio of the F2 -generation  

• 1:2:1 ✔ (1)

[35] 
TOTAL SECTION B: 105 
GRAND TOTAL: 150