O-LevelGeographyEconomic development2217/13 · May/June 2018 · Q525 Marks

(a) Study Fig. 5.1 (Insert), which shows agricultural land use in Iraq.

(a)(i)Identify the agricultural land use in north east Iraq.[1]
(a)(ii)Using evidence from Fig. 5.1 only, give different reasons why cultivation can take place in areas A and B. Area A Area B[2]
(a)(iii)Iraq has recently been at war. Explain why war may cause food shortages.[3]
(a)(iv)Explain how other economic and political factors may cause food shortages in a country.[4]
(b)(i)Describe the agricultural land use in Fig. 5.2.[3]
(b)(ii)Describe methods which could be used to increase the output of the land shown in Fig. 5.2.[5]
(c)Describe and explain the land use of a farm or agricultural system in a named area you have studied. Type of farm or agricultural system Name of area[7]

This question uses a diagram from the original paper, which isn't shown here. Open the full paper from the past papers archive to see it.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2018). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] (a)(i) Grazing
[2] (a)(ii) A = River/irrigation/sufficient rainfall/enough rainfall/250 mm of rainfall/a lot of rainfall B = Irrigation/close to river Note: no double credit for river
[3] (a)(iii) Ideas such as: Farmers have to fight in army/reduced labour force/farmers killed; Crops destroyed/animals killed/farmland damaged; Unsafe to farm due to bombing/mines; Government investment in farming reduced due to war effort/spend all the money on the army/divert food for the army Unable to transport food;/unable to import food Market/shops destroyed; Increased food prices; People unable to work so cannot afford food;
[4] (a)(iv) Ideas such as: Lack of investment in agriculture (by government); Poor distribution network/poor road system; Many farmers produce cash crops/crops for export rather than food for people who live there; Aid is poorly distributed; People cannot afford food due to unemployment/currency devaluation; Unstable/corrupt government; Cannot afford to import food; High cost of inputs for farming or examples;
[3] (b)(i) Ideas such: Crops/rice/land is cultivated/padi fields; Terraced land/in small steps; Bunds/embankments around field; Soil waterlogged/standing water in fields/flooded fields; Small fields/divided into many fields
[5] (b)(ii) Ideas such as: fertilisers; natural manure; crop rotation; herbicides pesticides/insecticides; mechanisation; land reform; high yielding varieties keep fish in padi fields
[7] (c) Levels marking Level 1 (1-3 marks) Simple statements which describe/explain the land use of farm or agricultural system. Level 2 (4-6 marks) Uses named example. More developed statements which explain land use of farm or agricultural system. (Note: Max 5 if no named or inappropriate example) Level 3 (7 marks) Uses named example. Comprehensive and accurate statements, which describe and explain land use of farm or agricultural system including some place specific reference. Content Guide: Description should refer to types of crops and/or livestock Explanation should refer to: Climate Relief Soil Access Demand Proximity of markets etc. Place specific reference is likely to consist of: Locational details; Specific details of sources of inputs/outputs