MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY

QUESTIONNAIRE

FACULTY OF NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND AGRICULTURE

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE

Name of farmer …………………………………………………………………………………

Farm name …………………………………………………………………………………

Address …………………………………………………………………………………

Contact number: ……………………………. email ……………….…………………………...

Physical and Postal Address………………………………………………………………......

Proposal to introduce an executive certificate in Agriculture practice

Basic introduction

The department of Agriculture practicehas the intention to introduce a non-academic certificate in Agriculture practice. Our aim is to introduce an executive certificate meant for potential and existing farm owners or plot holders who are either business executives,managers, academics, or civil servants with no prior agriculture training or background. We also aim at a future date to introduce a general certificate meant to teach practical skills in farm production for the supervisors, foremen and general farm hands from your farms. We are still at consultative stage of which we wish to get your opinion about the course content and structure.

The executive certificate will have three core modules that, is soil management, mechanization and farm business management.The two optional modules will becrop production or livestock management. The student will have an option to choose one.

Our intention is to run the course over a period of six months either on block release or as weekend school. The practical component will represent 50% of the total assessment, and the will be a written examination at the end of the semester.The fees proposed are $275, paidthrough the normal university systems. An examination will be written at the end of the course. Below is the proposed course content:

You can give your feedback to Mr R.K. Gono on

1). Proposed module content

A). CROP PRODUCTION

I)Maize production, Small grains (millets, sorghum), Groundnuts production, Soya and sugar beans, Wheat production

B) VEGETABLE PRODUCTION

i) Tomato, Cabbage, Potatoes, Onion, Green pepper, Cucumber,Carrot,Green beans production

C). CITRUS PRODUCTION

i) Orange, Mango, Peach, Mulberry, Banana– propagating techniques and production

D). SOIL MANAGEMENT

i) Soil sampling

ii) Soil fertilization

iii) Maintenance of soil structure by minimizing the impact of heavy tillage practices

iv) In situ green manuring by growing pulse crops like cowpea, sunn hemp etc

v) reduce soil compaction issues

E). IRRIGATION

i) Irrigation types – Flood, drip, overhead

ii) Irrigation scheduling

iii) restore and maintain wetlands

F). FARM MECHANISATION

i)Tractor power

ii) Animal power

iii) Farm implements - calibration and maintenance

G). FARM BUSINESS

i)Enterprise budgets and forecasting

ii).Whole farm gross margin

iii) Cash flowmanagement and application of finance

iv) Farm budgets

v) Farm and enterprise insurance

H). LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION

i) Piggery – pig management, boar and sow management and housing

ii) Dairy – Breeds, milking processes and machine management, record keeping, Artificial insemination

iii) Poultry (quails, broilers and layers) – Brooder production, grow out, layer and egg production.

iv) Beef– breeds, breeding and management castration, dehorning, identification and feeding

v) Rabbit production

vi) Diseases management, control and treatment

vi) Bees – Bee hiving techniques, establishment and pollination

vii) Aquaculture – Pond setting and fish production

viii) Apply traceability process on the whole production chain

I)HEALTHCARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH

i)Quality assurance

ii)Best practices in crop and livestock production

iii)Biosecurity issues

5). Yoursuggestions and proposals theproposed module content

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