(a) Define: (i) demand; (ii) price elasticity of demand [4 marks]
(b) Explain why the demand curve slopes downwards. [2 marks]
(c) List four agents of agricultural marketing [4 marks]
(d) State two advantages and one disadvantge of each of the following agricultural extension teaching methods; (i) newspapers; (ii) television [6 marks]
Explanation
(a)(i) Demand is the quantity of goods a consumer is willing and ready to buy at a given price, over a given period of time OR Demand is the ability and willingness to buy specific quantities of goods or services at alternative prices, over a given period of time.
(ii) Definition of price elasticity of demand: Price elasticity of demand is the degree of responsiveness of demand to changes in the price of goods / produce.
(b) Explanation why the demand curve slopes downwards: This is because the higher the price the lower the quantity of goods demanded OR the lower the price the higher of the quantity of goods demanded
(c) Agents of Agricultural Marketing:
-Marketing or commodity boards/commissioned agents
-Producers or farmers
-Wholesalers or Distributors
-Cooperative societies
-Individual or private middlemen
- Retailers or petty traders
(d)(i) Advantages and Disadvantages of Newspapers as agricultural extension teaching method:
Advantages
- They have a long lasting effect since farmers can always refer to previous information
- They can also be used in areas where there is no electricity
- The pictures they often carry serves as useful teaching aids
- They are less expensive - Can be widely circulated
Disadvantages
- Newspapers cannot easily reach all farming communities because of band roads
- Besides, newspapers do not have information feedback mechanism
- It is also true that not all farmers can afford to buy newspapers
-Their use is restricted to only few literate farmers
(ii) Advantgages and Disadvantgages of Television as agricultural extension teaching method
Advantages
- Television is particularly effective in the dissemination of agricultural information because the farmers learn by both hearing and seeing clear pictures of what is being taught.
- Messages conveyed by television tend to last longer in the minds of the farmers
- It also makes it possible for such information to reach farming communities that are not accessible by roads.
Disadvantages
- Television sets are expensive and not all farmers can own them
- It requires source of power to operate
- Use of television does not allow the extension worker to get a feedback on the lessons taught.
- Transmission may not reach all areas