O-LevelPakistan StudiesThe environment of PakistanOct/Nov 2017 · Q325 Marks

Name a species of fish reared on a fish farm.

(a)(i) AName a species of fish reared on a fish farm.[1]
(a)(i) BGive two uses for the products of fish farms.[2]
(a)(ii)Describe the methods used to rear fish on fish farms.[3]
(b)(i)Study Fig. 4, which shows changes in farm size in Pakistan between 1980 and 2010. [Figure 4] In which year was the percentage of farms under 5 hectares (ha) the smallest?[1]
(b)(ii)Identify the two main changes in farm size over the whole period 1980–2010.[2]
(b)(iii)Suggest a reason for one of the changes you have identified in (b)(ii).[1]
(b)(iv)Explain how farm size can affect production on farms in Pakistan. You should develop your answer.[4]
(c)(i) AStudy Photograph B (Insert). Name the crop shown in this photograph.[1]
(c)(i) BGive one reason why this crop can be grown in many areas of Pakistan.[1]
(c)(i) CDescribe one natural requirement for a high yield of this crop.[1]
(c)(ii)Sugar cane is an important crop grown in Pakistan. Suggest two reasons why there is an increased demand for this crop.[2]
(d)A huge area, 4–7 million hectares or one-fifth to one-third of the total agricultural area of Pakistan, has seen yields decreased or crops lost completely due to waterlogging and salinity. Evaluate whether it is possible to prevent agricultural land being damaged by waterlogging and salinity. Give reasons to support your judgement and refer to examples you have studied. You should consider different points of view in your answer.[6]

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 (Oct/Nov 2017). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] Trout: brown / rainbow / Palla / Thalla / Catfish; Carp: Mahseer (Mahasher) / rahu / grass / silver / catla / mrigal.
[1] Animal / poultry feed;
[1] Local consumption / sold in local markets / fulfil requirements / food supply;
[1] Source of protein;
[1] Fish oil extracted / used in medicine;
[1] Fish fertiliser / manure;
[1] Export;
[1] Breeding / saving species from extinction.
[1] Rectangular / man-made ponds;
[1] Lined / concrete base / cemented endings;
[1] Fill pond with water;
[1] Add fish or stock / nursery/ different fry, juveniles, etc.;
[1] Selective breeding programme;
[1] Trees planted on farms [to prevent losses from evaporation / for shade];
[1] Water enriched with nutrients / fertilised with manure / from poultry droppings [for growth of plankton];
[1] Feed added to water / food provided;
[1] Water filtered / changed / refilled / health and hygiene checked or maintained / chemicals or medicine to prevent disease.
[1] 1980
[1] Under 5 / (74 to 89) increases;
[1] 5-20 / (24 to 10) decreases;
[1] 21 and over / (2 to 1) decreases/halved.
[1] For 'Under 5 / (74 to 89)': Increasing sub-division of family plots because of inheritance laws; Increasing population causing pressure on land.
[1] For '5-20 / (24 to 10)': Redistribution of landlord holdings / land reform reducing landlord holdings / consolidation of holdings.
[1] For '21 and over / (2 to 1)': Continues to represent a minority of farms in Pakistan / agriculture in Pakistan primarily subsistence.
[4] For smaller farms: Higher proportion wastage / longer time to harvest (since less able to use machinery / difficult to manoeuvre machinery);
[4] For smaller farms: Shorter / restricted / reduced harvest time (as more likely to / can only afford to rent rather than buy machinery / tractors);
[4] For smaller farms: Less able to grow crops for sale / less able to produce quality crops (as large land needed for monocultures / efficient / economic production);
[4] For smaller farms: Less able to invest in development of farm (as less likely to be able to obtain loans);
[4] For smaller farms: Crops less well irrigated and lower yields (as cannot afford / do not have modern irrigation / tubewells);
[4] For smaller farms: Higher yields / output per ha (since farming is intensive / intensive use of labour);
[4] For smaller farms: Small farms - smaller amount of crop produced than larger farms (mainly subsistence, so less for sale).
[4] For larger farms: Farming inefficient or not all of land cultivated (Zamindari system provides less incentive as large landlords are absent / workers are landless);
[4] For larger farms: Larger farms – larger amount of crop can be produced than smaller farms.
[1] Millet / jowar / bajra
[1] Will grow in dry / semi-arid / barani areas / few irrigation facilities;
[1] Will grow in poor / sandy soil;
[1] Has a short growing season;
[1] Flat land available / on marginal land.
[1] Soil - one of: well drained, light, sandy, alluvial, loamy, not waterlogged;
[1] Climate – one of: warm / 21–30 °C, frost free, low rainfall / 200–1000 mm.
[1] Rapid increase in population;
[1] Increase in per capita consumption of sugar;
[1] Export of (raw) sugar;
[1] Raw material for other industries – waste material – Bagasie (cardboard / chipboard / paper animal feed) / molasses (cattle feed / citric acid).
[6] Content Guide: Answers are likely to refer to:
[6] Possible: Leaving part of the land fallow;
[6] Possible: Line / temporary closure of canals;
[6] Possible: Install tubewells;
[6] Possible: Planting eucalyptus trees;
[6] Possible: Digging surface / sub-surface drains;
[6] Possible: Removing salts by adding gypsum;
[6] Possible: Salinity Control and Reclamation Project;
[6] Possible: Cultivating salt tolerant crops / use saline land for livestock.
[6] Not possible: Cost of maintaining / replacing tubewells / other measures;
[6] Not possible: Farmers continue to over-irrigate;
[6] Not possible: SCARP projects date from 1958 and large public tubewells deteriorating / reaching end of their life;
[6] Not possible: Lack of access to / cannot afford water;
[6] Not possible: Massive investment needed.