AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
PAPER 2
GRADE 12  
NSC EXAMS
PAST PAPERS AND MEMOS
NOVEMBER 2018

MEMORANDUM

SECTION A
QUESTION 1 
1.1
1.1.1 D ✔✔ 
1.1.2 B ✔✔
1.1.3 B ✔✔ 
1.1.4 A ✔✔ 
1.1.5 B ✔✔ 
1.1.6 D ✔✔
1.1.7 C ✔✔ 
1.1.8 C ✔✔
1.1.9 A ✔✔ 
1.1.10 A ✔✔ (10 x 2) (20) 

1.2
1.2.1 F ✔✔
1.2.2 H ✔✔
1.2.3 D ✔✔ 
1.2.4 E ✔✔ 
1.2.5 G ✔✔ (5 x 2) (10) 

1.3
1.3.1 Market segmentation ✔✔ 
1.3.2 Law of diminishing returns ✔✔
1.3.3 Dihybrid ✔✔ 
1.3.4 Mutation ✔✔
1.3.5 Gene ✔✔ (5 x 2) (10) 

1.4
1.4.1 Distribution ✔
1.4.2 Conceptual ✔ 
1.4.3 Heterozygous ✔
1.4.4 Heredity ✔
1.4.5 Atavism/throwback ✔ (5 x 1) (5)

TOTAL SECTION A: 45

SECTION B 
QUESTION 2: AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING 
2.1 Swot analysis  
2.1.1 Identification of the day 

• Day 3 ✔ (1) 

2.1.2 Relationship between price, supply and demand 

• The higher the price ✔ the lower the demand ✔ and the higher the  supply ✔
• The lower the price ✔ the higher the demand ✔ and the lower the  supply ✔ (Any 1) (3) 

2.1.3 Reason for lower demand in Day 5 

• The price for lemons was higher on day 5 and lower on day 1/ on day 5 the price was R30 and on day 1 it was R10 ✔ (1)   

2.2 Product preparation  
2.2.1 The function of marketing  

• Packaging ✔ (1) 

2.2.2 TWO factors used in the grading of peaches  

• Size/weight ✔
• Appearance/smoothness/bruising ✔ 
• Characteristics of the cultivar ✔ 
• Colour ✔
• Ripeness ✔ (Any 2) (2) 

2.2.3 Factor hampering the marketing of peaches  

• Perishability/bruising/spoilage/volume/size ✔ (1) 

2.2.4 THREE advantages of processing 

• Available throughout the year ✔
• Prevent the spoilage/wastage/perishability ✔ 
• Can be transported to places where it is not produced ✔
• Storage period increases/longer shelf life ✔
• Improves the safety of products ✔ 
• More convenient/easier packaging/handling ✔ 
• Adds value/higher income/profit ✔ 
• Easier to transport than fresh products ✔ 
• Provides employment to many people ✔
• Assists to control over supply ✔ (Any 3) (3)

2.3 Free marketing  
2.3.1 Free marketing channels 

• A Farm gate/direct marketing ✔ (1)
• B Direct marketing/contract sales ✔ (1)
• C Contract sales ✔ (1)

2.3.2 Defining a free marketing system 

• Type of marketing where the producer sells ✔ to whoever/ wherever at any time/at any price ✔
• Type of marketing where a producer sells ✔ produce without  restrictions/legislation ✔ (Any 1) (2) 

2.3.3 TWO advantages of contract sales for farmers 

• Bulk handling will reduce the cost of delivery ✔
• Marketing margin is reduced ✔ 
• Cutting out the intermediaries ✔ 
• Volume/sales guaranteed ✔ 
•  Price is guaranteed ✔ 
•  Reduces risk ✔ (Any 2) (2) 

2.3.4 Comparison of a cooperative marketing to free marketing with regard to price of produce  

•  Cooperative marketing - Price is set/fixed/stable ✔ (1)
• Free marketing - Price fluctuates/unstable/changes/flexible ✔  (1)

2.4 Entrepreneur  
2.4.1 Identification of an entrepreneur 

• Individual B ✔ (1) 

2.4.2 TWO personal characteristics of an entrepreneur 

• Confidence/courage ✔
• Risk taker ✔ 
• Innovative/creative ✔ 
• Self-motivated/drive ✔ 
•  Hard working/energetic ✔ 
• Commitment ✔ 
• Foresight ✔ (Any 2) (2) 

2.4.3 Identification of the document from the scenario  

• Business plan ✔ (1) 

2.4.4 TWO problems of drawing up a business plan 

• Leaving gaps/vague/too generic ✔ 
• Over ambitious/unrealistic assumptions ✔
• Hiding weaknesses and risk ✔ 
• Not highlighting competitors ✔ 
• Using incorrect format ✔ 
• Insufficient technical details ✔ 
• Incomplete financials/budget/cash flow errors ✔
• Insufficient research ✔ (Any 2) (2)

2.5 Bar graph 

2.5.1 CRITERIA/RUBRIC/MARKING GUIDELINES  

• Correct heading ✔
• X axis: Correctly calibrated with label (Plant products) ✔
• Y axis: Correctly calibrated with label (Price) ✔ 
• Correct units (R per ton) ✔ 
• Bar graph ✔ 
• Accuracy ✔ (6) 

2.5.2 Indication of the trend in maize and red meat price  

• When the price of maize was decreasing from 2016 to 2017 ✔ the price of red meat was increasing ✔ (2) [35] 

QUESTION 3: PRODUCTION FACTORS 
3.1 Land as production factor 
3.1.1 Economic function of land in 

• Picture A: provision of food/raw materials ✔
• Picture B: provision of physical space/area ✔ (2) 

3.1.2 Method to increase the production in PICTURE A 

• The use of technology/scientific methods ✔ (1) 

3.1.3 Economic benefit of land to the farmer  

• Serves as a collateral/security ✔ (1)

3.2 Association of the statements to the economic characteristics of land 
3.2.1 Land for agriculture is limited/availability of land is limited ✔ (1)
3.2.2 Land is durable/indestructible/lifespan of land is unlimited ✔ (1)
3.2.3 Land appreciates in value ✔ (1)
3.3 Labour as a production factor 
3.3.1 Indication of the production factor  

• Casual ✔ (1) 

3.3.2 TWO characteristics describing a permanent farm worker 

• Employed full-time ✔
• Enjoy benefits such as leave/housing/pension ✔ 
• Live with their families on the farm ✔
• Has a long term contract/conditions of employment ✔ 
•  Allowed to have their own livestock on the farm ✔ 
• Profit sharing ✔ (Any 2) (2)

3.4 Labour challenges  
3.4.1 TWO challenges of labour affecting productivity 

Related Items

• Abuse of alcohol ✔ 
• Longer working hours ✔
• Lower wages ✔ 
• Poor living/working conditions ✔ 
• Absenteeism ✔ 
• HIV and AIDS infections ✔ 
• Low levels of education/lack of training ✔ (Any 2) (2) 

3.4.2 TWO responsibilities by the farmer to address the challenges 

• Abuse of alcohol - Awareness programmes/recreation facilities ✔
• Longer working hours - Improved/better working hours ✔ 
• Lower wages - Improved wages/salaries ✔
• Poor living/working conditions - Improved working/living conditions ✔
• Absenteeism - Intervention/awareness programmes ✔ 
• HIV and AIDS infections - Improved health conditions/HIV/AIDS  awareness campaigns ✔
• Low levels of education/lack of training  Provision of education/training ✔ (Any 2) (2) 

3.4.3 TWO reasons for farm workers to be lost to other industries

• Better wages in other sectors ✔ 
• Better working hours ✔
• Improved living conditions ✔
• Better health facilities ✔
• Better educational facilities ✔ 
• Recreational facilities ✔ (Any 2) (2)

3.5 Capital 
3.5.1 TWO sources of capital  

• Loan ✔
• Production/sales from eggs ✔ (2) 

3.5.2 TWO problems in regard to capital  

• High interest rate ✔
• Capital is scarce ✔ (Any 2) (2) 

3.5.3 TWO other problems of capital 

• Under capitalisation ✔
• Over capitalization ✔
• Depreciation ✔
• Risk ✔
• Capital is expensive ✔
• Law of diminishing returns ✔ (Any 2) (2) 

3.5.4 Calculation of profit with formula  

•  Profit = Income – Expenditure ✔
  ∙ = R14,85 – R8,55 ✔
• Profit = R6,30 per dozen ✔ (3)

3.6 Risk management 
3.6.1 TWO risk management strategies 

•  Diversification ✔
• Hedging/contract marketing ✔ (2) 

3.6.2 Justification of 

• Diversification 
  The farmer has a number of different enterprises such as crops,  livestock and fodder production in order to spread the risk ✔ (1)
• Hedging/Contract marketing
  The farmer made future contracts/agreement with supermarket ✔ (1) 

3.7 External and internal forces affecting the farming business  
3.7.1 External forces affecting the farming business 

1.  Economical/political ✔ (1) 
2. Socio-cultural/health ✔ (1) 
3. Competitive ✔ (1) 
4. Socio-cultural/environmental ✔ (1) 

3.7.2 Sources of risk  

1.  Financial/market and price ✔ (1) 
2. Environmental ✔ (1) [35]

QUESTION 4: BASIC AGRICULTURAL GENETICS  
4.1 BREEDING PAIR 1 and BREEDING PAIR 2 
4.1.1 Number of brown goats in the F1generation 

• 0 ✔ (1) 

4.1.2 The phenotypic ratio for the F2 generation 

• 24 white goats ✔: 8 brown goats ✔
  OR
• 3 white goats ✔ : 1 brown goat ✔ [[(2) 

4.1.3 Punnet square method to determine the genotypic ratio in the  F2-generation  

The ratio of the genotype = 1:2:1 (1 WW : 2 Ww : 1ww)  
Marking guidelines/criteria 

• Correct gametes ✔
• Correct offspring ✔ 
• Punnet square (with gametes and offspring) ✔
• Correct ratio ✔ (4)

4.2 Breeding systems 
4.2.1 Deductions of the breeding systems 

1.  Cross breeding ✔  (1) 
2.  Inbreeding ✔  (1) 
3. Line breeding ✔  (1) 

4.2.2 TWO characteristics of progeny E

• Grow faster ✔
• Better adaptability ✔
• Produce more than the parents ✔
• More resistant to diseases ✔
• Better feed conversion rate ✔ (Any 2) (2) 

4.2.3 TWO disadvantages of inbreeding  

• Decreased variation ✔
• Undesirable characteristics can be bred into the progeny ✔
• Produces deformities ✔
• Undesirable gene are rapidly made homogeneous ✔
• Degeneration may appear in the herd/ leads to inbreeding depression ✔
• Expensive system ✔
• Causes poor adaptability to an environment ✔
• Progeny are less resistant to diseases ✔
• Promote lethal genes ✔ (Any 2) (2)

4.3 Genetic modification 
4.3.1 Identification of the techniques 

1. Electroporation ✔ (1) 
2. Micro- injection ✔ (1)
3. Agrobacterium tumefaciens/bacterial/viral/biological carriers ✔ (1) 

4.3.2 THREE potential benefits of GM crops 

• Improved shelf life ✔
• Improved nutritional value/colour/flavour ✔
• Improved resistance to pests/diseases ✔ 
• Improved tolerance to harsh environmental/climatic conditions ✔
• Resistance to herbicides/pesticides ✔ 
• Grow fast ✔ 
• Improved production/yield ✔ (Any 3) (3) 

4.3.3 TWO possible negative effects of GM crops on the  environment 

• Can produce super weeds ✔
• Insect resistant plants can kill beneficial insects ✔ 
• Farmers may use excessive amounts of herbicides that may  damage the soil ✔ 
• Loss of biodiversity ✔ 
• Reduce the effectiveness of herbicides/pesticides ✔ (Any 2) (2)

4.4 Variation 
4.4.1 Identification of the TWO types of variation  

• Continuous ✔
• Discontinuous ✔ (2) 

4.4.2 Differentiation between 

• Continuous
  A complete range of characteristics from one extreme to the other/ Quantitative characteristics ✔ (1)
• Discontinuous
  A characteristic with a few clear cut forms/no intermediate forms/ Qualitative characteristics ✔ (1) 

4.4.3 Indication of the characteristic of the chicken  

1.  Head comb ✔
2. Body size ✔ (2) 

4.4.4 External factor that impacts on body size 

• Nutrition/feeding/diet ✔
• Light intensity ✔
• Diseases ✔
• Population density ✔ 
• Temperature ✔ (Any 1) (1)

4.5 Patterns of inheritance  
4.5.1 Linking of the statements  

1. Incomplete/partial dominance ✔ (1) 
2. Co-dominance ✔ (1)
3. Complete dominance ✔ (1) 

4.5.2 Indication of the genetic phenomenon of inheritance 

• Prepotency ✔ (1) 

4.5.3 TWO other patterns of inheritance  

• Polygenic ✔
• Multiple alleles ✔ 
• Atavism ✔
• Epistasis ✔ (Any 2) (2) [35] 

TOTAL SECTION B: 105 
GRAND TOTAL: 150