Waec Model Questions Vol1 2025 Economics Question 16

A farmer cultivates maize and soybeans on a total of 10 hectares. He allocates 6 hectares to maize and the remaining 4 hectares to soybeans. The expected yields are 3.5 tonnes per hectare for maize and 2.2 tonnes per hectare for soybeans. Market prices are ₦120 per kilogram for maize and ₦200 per kilogram for soybeans. Variable cost per hectare is ₦150,000 for maize and ₦180,000 for soybeans, and the farm has a fixed cost of ₦500,000. The farmer can apply a special fertilizer to at most 4 hectares of maize. Each fertilized hectare raises the maize yield by 15 % (from 3.5 t/ha to 4.025 t/ha) and adds an extra cost of ₦30,000 per hectare. The farmer wants a total profit of at least ₦2,250,000. What is the minimum whole number of hectares of maize that must be fertilized to meet this profit target?