WOLDIA UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF SOIL RESOURCE AND WATER SHADE
MANAGEMENT
Course Guidebook for [Link]. in Soil Resource and water shade
management
Course title: Introduction to Agriculture
Degree Program [Link]. in Soil Resources and Watershed Management
Module Title Agriculture and Rural Development (MAgFo4153)
Module
Coordinator
Course Title & Introduction to Agriculture (SRWM3152)
Code
Course Credit 5 ECTS
Course Academic Year II Semester I
Information
Instructor’s Name Alefe Tesfahun and Yeshareg Taye
Instructor’s Office: +251985987201/+251935427259
Contact Info. Email: alefetesfahun@[Link]
Lecture Tutorial Group Lab & Field Home Total
Student Work Work Practice Study
Load 32hrs 0hrs 0hrs 48hrs 55hrs 135hrs
Competences
Course Objectives At the end of the course, the student expected to:
Develop and use reasoning skill for analyzing sustainable
agricultural
Analyze a variety of technologies to gain information about the
organic/ sustainable agriculture industry and apply these
technologies in the analysis of specific situations.
Acquire and use selected techniques to develop sustainable
agricultural practices
Know the potential of crops for sustainable agriculture
Compare the time and effort needed to use crop products for
food and energy as compared to animal products
Understand the contribution of different cropping system to
improve the health of ecosystem
Course The course is designed to provide a foundation of knowledge
Description for students in some important general concepts and
(Contents) terminologies with respect to agriculture.
An introduction to the history, definitions, concepts, principles
and practices of sustainable agriculture systems with an
emphasis on organic techniques
Topics include state-of-the-art, site-specific management and
sustainable agribusiness.
The course also highlights basic principles of both Crop and
Livestock production and components of farming system in
reference to Ethiopian Conditions.
Case studies in sustainable agriculture will be also briefly
discussed that addresses both crop and livestock production and
management.
Pre-requisites None
Course Status Compulsory
Outlines
Week Lecture Topic and Sub-topic References
(Hours)
1 Chapter One: Introduction Integrating
1.1 The Art and Science of Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable
1.2 Sustainable Agriculture: Principle and Practice Agriculture,
1.3 Objectives of Sustainable Agriculture Ecology, and
1.4 Benefit of Sustainable Agriculture Environmental
1.5 Elements of Sustainability Policy,
1.6 Achieving Sustainability Richard K. Olson
2 Chapter Two: Cropping Systems
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Terms and Definitions
2.3 Types of Cropping Systems
3 Chapter Three: Principles of Crop Husbandry
3.1 Tillage and Land Preparation
3.2 Irrigation & Drainage
3.3 Seeds & Seeding
3.4 Soil Fertility Management
3.5 Crop Improvement
3.6 Crop Protection
3.7 Crop Harvesting and Storage
3.8 Marketing of Agricultural Crops
6-7 Chapter Four: Major Field Crops Grown in
Ethiopia
4.1 Cereals
4.2 Grain Pulses
8-13 Chapter Five: Introduction to Animal Stephen Rere
Production (1998)
5.1 History and Domestication of Animals
5.2 Role of Livestock Production
5.3 General Role of Livestock in Ethiopian
Agriculture
5.4 Livestock Nutrition
5.5 Constraints to Livestock Production and
Productivity
5.6 Livestock Improvement
13-14 Chapter Six: Livestock Production Systems Stephen Rere
6.1 Extensive production systems (1998)
6.1.1 Pastoralism
6.1.2 Ranching
6.2 Semi- intensive systems
6.2.1 Crop- livestock production system
6.4 Intensive systems
15-16 Chapter Seven: Poultry Production and Stephen Rere
Management (1998)
7.1 Poultry Reproduction
7.2 Reproductive Differences of Poultry from
Other Livestock
Chapter Eight: Apiculture E.F. Phillips (2006)
8.1 Beekeeping in Ethiopia pp. 205-217; 421-
8.2 Types of Bee Castes 442
8.3 Bee Keeping Systems
8.4 Bee Products and their Uses
Chapter Nine: Fishery
7.1 Fishery Resources
7.2 Economic Importance of Fishery
Chapter Ten: Site-specific Management of Farm
and Decision Support Systems
(DSSs)
10.1 What is Site-specific Management
10.2 Driving Forces Behind SSM
10.3 Why Do We Need Decision Support System
in Agriculture?
Chapter Eleven: Sustainable Agri-business
11.1 Agri-business (value add, marketing,
certification, organic inspection, finding
buyers, collaborative and cooperative
marketing, Agricultural Completeness etc)
Chapter Twelve: Innovations for Sustainable
Agriculture
12.1 Fertilizer Tree
12.2 Perennial Crops
12.3 Cover Crops
12.4 Small Livestock Productions
12.5 Crop-livestock (mixed) Production Systems
12.6 Policy- Accessing Product to Market
Delivery and Assessment Methods
Teaching and Lecture, tutorials, home study, group discussions, intensive
Learning Methods readings, role play and independent assignments. Based on these
methodologies of teaching, the course should have highly
participatory that helps students to develop habits of critical
thinking, inquisitive, critical, analytic, integrative and morally
balanced student, and exhibits higher ethical standards like open-
mindedness, rational thinking, evidence-oriented personality and
problem-solving skills.
Assessments Assessment Types Mark Allotted Schedule
Test-1 10%
Mid-Exam 20%
Assignment 20%
Final-Exam 50% As per university
schedule
Policy Attendance: Students should attend at least 85% of class.
Assignments: All students must do all the assignments given.
Test/Quizzes: All students must site/take all test/quizzes given.
Cheating/Plagiarism: Cheating/plagiarism is strictly forbidden. It
will result in disqualification of the course.
Cell phones: Cell phones must be turned off before entering the
class as they are disruptive.
References
Approved by:
Alefe Tesfahun/ Yeshareg Taye ______________ ______________
Course Instructor Signature Date
Kassahun Muluye ______________ ______________
Department Head Signature Date
Dr Solomon Tsegaye ______________ ______________
College Dean Signature Date