CSEC Agricultural Science SBA Guide

SBA Overview

School-Based Assessment (SBA) is an integral part of student assessment in CSEC Agricultural Science. It allows students to demonstrate practical skills, knowledge, and competencies developed throughout the course.

The SBA contributes significantly to the final examination grade:

Single Award: SBA is worth 30% of the total marks
Double Award: SBA is worth 40% of the total marks

Students are required to maintain a portfolio that includes:

Documentation of practical skills performed in the field
One investigation in crop production
One investigation in animal production
Double Award only: A business plan for an agricultural enterprise

Single vs Double Award SBA

Aspect	Single Award	Double Award
Purpose	General proficiency in Agricultural Science	Technical and vocational preparation for agriculture-related careers
SBA Weight	30% of total marks	40% of total marks
Business Plan	Not required	Required (20 marks of SBA)
Word Count (Investigations)	Approximately 1,000 words	More detailed investigations with value addition
CVQ Integration	Optional	Integrated with CVQ Level 1 standards
Focus	Basic agricultural principles and practices	Sustainable agriculture, business planning, and entrepreneurship

Note: The Double Award is designed for students pursuing careers in agriculture and includes Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) Level 1 units in Crop Production and Livestock Rearing.

SBA Markscheme & Assessment

Single Award SBA Structure (30 marks total)

Component	Marks	Description
Practical Skills Assessment	10	10 skills (5 crop, 5 animal) assessed on technique and competency
Investigative Project	10	One crop OR animal investigation with cost analysis
Other Investigation	10	The other investigation (crop or animal) with cost analysis
Total SBA Marks	30	Scaled to contribute 30% to final grade

Double Award SBA Structure (40 marks total)

Component	Marks	Description
Practical Skills Assessment	10	10 skills (5 crop, 5 animal) with additional sustainable agriculture skills
Crop Production Investigation	10	Detailed investigation with value addition and cost analysis
Animal Production Investigation	10	Detailed investigation with value addition and cost analysis
Business Plan	10	Comprehensive business plan for agricultural enterprise
Total SBA Marks	40	Scaled to contribute 40% to final grade

Important: Reports exceeding the word limit by more than 10% will incur a 10% penalty on the project score. All work must be original and properly referenced.

Investigation Ideas & Examples

Crop Production Investigation Ideas

Fertilizer Comparison

Compare the effect of organic vs. inorganic fertilizers on crop growth, yield, and profitability. Example: Urea vs. cow manure on pepper plants.

Irrigation Methods

Compare different irrigation methods (drip, sprinkler, manual) on water efficiency and crop yield for vegetables like lettuce or tomatoes.

Shadehouse vs Open Field

Investigate how protected cultivation (shadehouse) affects plant growth, pest incidence, and yield compared to open field cultivation.

Seed Treatment Effects

Compare germination rates and early growth of seeds treated with different methods (soaking, priming, untreated control).

Mulching Comparison

Investigate effects of different mulching materials (plastic, straw, grass) on soil moisture, temperature, weed control, and crop yield.

Spacing Trials

Determine optimal plant spacing for maximum yield and profitability of a specific crop like cabbage or lettuce.

Animal Production Investigation Ideas

Feed Comparison

Compare different feed types or formulations on broiler growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and dressing percentage.

Litter Material Comparison

Investigate effects of different litter materials (sawdust, wood shavings, rice hulls) on bird health, ammonia levels, and cleaning frequency.

Lighting Effects

Compare growth performance of broilers under continuous lighting vs. controlled lighting schedules.

Herbal vs Conventional Supplements

Investigate effects of herbal growth promoters vs. conventional antibiotics on broiler health and growth performance.

Brooding Temperature

Compare chick growth and survival under different brooding temperature regimes during the first weeks.

Stocking Density

Investigate effects of different stocking densities on broiler growth, feed conversion, and incidence of health issues.

Business Plan Guide (Double Award)

Requirements: 1500-1800 words, based on research, for an agricultural enterprise related to crop or livestock production.

Business Plan Components

Title Page: Name, registration number, school, territory, year
Table of Contents
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
Description of Business: Name, nature, form, mission statement, objectives, location
Justification for Business: Market research, target population, competitors, SWOT analysis
Products and Services
Marketing Plan: Product, pricing, distribution, promotion
Operational Plan: Management structure, labor, technology
Financial Plan: Projected balance sheet, profit & loss account, sources of finance
Bibliography

Sample Business Plan Structure & Content Requirements

1. TITLE PAGE

Must include:

Name of Student
Student Registration Number
Name of School
Year of Examination
Name of Teacher
Territory
Title of Project (Business Plan)

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS

Must include: All major headings with page numbers

3. LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

Example:

BSO: Backyard Small-Scale Operation
lbs: pounds
kg: kilograms
POS: Point of Sale

4. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Must include:

Name of Business: Clear and descriptive
Nature of Business: What the business does (e.g., "Integrated poultry farm and restaurant")
Form of Business: Sole proprietorship, partnership, cooperative
Mission Statement: 2-3 sentences describing business purpose
Business Description: Detailed description of operations
Vision: Future aspirations of the business
Objectives: 4-5 specific, measurable objectives
Location: Physical address with justification

5. JUSTIFICATION FOR THE BUSINESS

Must include:

Target Population: Who will buy your products/services
Competitors: Table showing nearby businesses and their prices
Sales Forecast: Projected sales for first year
SWOT Analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (in table format)
Justification for Location: Why this location is suitable

6. PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Must include:

Detailed description of all products/services
Menu/pricing for restaurant businesses
Product specifications for farm products
Packaging information
Slogan: Catchy business slogan

7. MARKETING PLAN

Must include:

Pricing Strategy: How prices are set (penetrative, competitive, etc.)
Distribution Channels: How products reach customers
Promotion Mix: Advertising methods (social media, flyers, etc.)
Production vs. Outsourcing: What will be produced in-house vs. bought

8. OPERATIONAL PLAN

Must include:

Management Structure: Organizational chart with roles
Labor Requirements: List of employees, their roles, and salaries
Use of Technology: Technology to be used (POS systems, social media, etc.)

9. FINANCIAL PLAN

Must include:

Projected Balance Sheet: Assets, liabilities, net worth
Profit and Loss Account: Projected income and expenses for one year
Projected Profit Calculation: Total income - total expenses
Sources of Finance: Where money will come from (personal savings, loans, etc.)

10. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Must include: At least 5 references in proper format (APA or Harvard style)

Sample Animal Production Investigation Structure

TITLE PAGE

Same requirements as Business Plan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

All headings with page numbers

INTRODUCTION

Must include:

Literature Review: Summary of 3+ references about your topic
Statement of Problem: What problem are you investigating?
Aims of Investigation: Technical and business objectives

METHODOLOGY

Must include:

Experimental Design: Diagram/layout of experiment
List of Materials, Tools, and Equipment: With descriptions of use
Activities: Step-by-step process with dates
Data Collection: What data was collected and how
Calculations: Space requirements, feed ratios, etc.

RESULTS

Must include:

Tables: Data presented in clear tables
Graphs/Charts: Bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts
Figures: Numbered and labeled
Interpretation: What the results show

DISCUSSION

Must include:

Comparison of your results to literature
Effect of technology used
Effect on profitability
Overall findings related to the problem

CONCLUSION, LIMITATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

Must include:

Conclusion: Summary based on results
Limitations: 2-3 limitations of the study
Recommendations: 2-3 suggestions for improvement

COST ANALYSIS

Must include:

Complete Budget: Projected income and expenditure
Actual Income and Expenditure: What actually happened
Comparison: Graphs comparing projected vs. actual
Profit/Loss Calculation: Actual profit calculation

REFERENCES

At least 5 properly formatted references

APPENDIX

Photos, additional calculations, value-added product recipes

Sample Crop Production Investigation Structure

Same Structure as Animal Production but with:

Different Activities: Land preparation, planting, fertilizing, weeding, harvesting
Different Data: Plant height, number of leaves, fruit yield, fruit weight
Crop-Specific Measurements: Germination rate, pest incidence, disease occurrence
Value Addition: Processing crops into products (sauces, pickles, dried products)

Need Help With Your SBA?

Struggling with your Agricultural Science SBA? We offer professional guidance and assistance at affordable rates.

digital.onlineclassroom@gmail.com

Contact via WhatsApp (592 731-3227)

Assistance Fee Structure

Basic Consultation: FREE - General guidance and feedback
Detailed Review: $15 USD - In-depth analysis with specific recommendations
Full SBA Development: $20-50 USD - Complete assistance based on complexity
Business Plan Development: $20 USD - Comprehensive business plan creation

Note: Fees vary based on project complexity and level of assistance required. Contact us for a customized quote.

Payment Methods: PayPal, Western Union, Bank Transfer (details provided upon agreement)

Email or WhatsApp us with your specific needs and we'll respond within 24-48 hours.

Response Time: Usually within 24 hours, maximum 48 hours