Introduction

In most African countries, over 60% of agriculture is performed by smallholder farmers. These farmers have been described as having abundant labour and land, but limited capital. Today’s global changes in the dynamics of production resources have greatly transformed this picture. For many small-scale African farmers today, neither land and labour nor capital are abundant, as all the resources required for sustainable agricultural production have become scarce. This has resulted in side-effects, such as hunger, environmental degradation, and climate change. As the competition for land, water and forest increases, most farmers are facing complex challenges. The balance between exchanging traditional cultivation methods for increased use of inputs (pesticides, herbicides, mineral fertilizers, hybrid seeds for sowing) and testing new cultivation methods is also a challenge. However, many farmers cannot afford any external inputs or make extra investment in agriculture.

Based on this analysis of the situation, the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CUL) at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) and the Mekelle University, Ethiopia (MU) identified a need to improve the relevance of research, education, and extension in agriculture. With support from Sida a programme was developed to promote Agro-ecology in practice Education and Training.

Some of the questions to be answered by the programme are,

How can a given landscape, in its socio-economical context, produce more food by using local resources as basic inputs (instead of external inputs such as fuel, fertilizers, pesticides), and as an additional output also sustain ecosystem service generation?

How can these production systems interact with food marketing and logistics, with the aim of improving food security and food safety for consumers while also increasing farmers’ income?

Rationale

Focus on Agro-ecology

There is a need to generate agriculture graduates with the ability to understand the farm as a production unit that interacts with its dynamic surroundings. The joint Master of Science in Agro-ecology therefore aims to create the learning environment necessary for training students in this understanding. The new aspect of agro-ecology as an academic subject embraces an interdisciplinary perspective. It focuses on knowledge, skills and abilities to handle such complex contexts.

Farming and food production are ecologically, economically and socially important in all societies. This is more so today when the world is faced with the challenge of climate change (FAO, 2008). The farming system in Sub-Saharan Africa is greatly depleted and requires calculated interventions (IAASTD, 2007). These, coupled with the Convention for Biological Diversity, and the Millennium Development Goals, are good reasons for worldwide need for academic experts that can deal with land use systems that are complex, multifunctional and rapidly changing in order to achieve sustainability of ecosystems.

 Uganda Martyrs University’s (UMU) policy stipulates that all her business shall be conducted in respect of nature and with concern for conservation of the environment. This is in line with both International and National Environment Policies such as the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Furthermore, she already runs courses focusing on sustainable environment management, and is therefore a suitable implementer of this course.

 Interdisciplinary Approach

To sufficiently foster conservation and sustainable use of agro-ecological systems the need for an interdisciplinary approach is crucial and that has been the basis for the development of the Masters programme in Agro-ecology.

 International focus

The goal of this programme is both to have an international focus and to increase the education cooperation between UMU, MU (Mekelle University) and SLU (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) by sharing education resources.

Objectives

The MSc. in Agro-ecology curriculum is to foster the development of practical, interdisciplinary skills to prepare students for the complex field of agriculture. Students should acquire a firm grasp of the technical, political and socio-cultural context of organic agriculture, techniques for studying local/indigenous knowledge, data collection and analytical methods used for planning, monitoring and evaluation, management and leadership in implementation of natural resource management and development programmes.

Eligibility

The course shall be open to holders of at least 2^nd Class Upper in a Bachelors degree in biological sciences, and any other degree deemed relevant from recognized institutions and who must have passed a Graduate Admission Test (GAT) by the school of post graduate studies. Priority will be given to students of organic agriculture and those working in very closely related systems to ensure graduate’s future contribution to sustainable development.

Duration

The program will be completed in a minimum of 2 years. During this period each student will be expected to attend lectures, participate in participatory agro-ecosystem analysis exercises, undertake course works, sit for examinations, conduct research, and write a dissertation.

 Programme Outline

The MSc. in Agro-Ecology curriculum will have 4 thematic areas based on a wide knowledge continuum. Each thematic area will cover 1 - 4 modules. Each semester will cover 3-5 modules. A total number of 12 modules will be taught during the two year course. Each of these modules is compounded with compatible units of knowledge and skills, hence the multidisciplinary nature. In addition to courses, students will execute a personal research project on any relevant agro-ecology issue. Their research findings will be written up into a dissertation, which will be a requirement for the award of a MSc. in Agro-Ecology Degree.

Thematic Area 1: Introduction to Systems Analysis and Agroecology

Thematic Area 2: Systems of Knowledge

Thematic Area 3: Ecology of Production A – Settings, Conditions

Thematic Area 3: Ecology of Production B – Applications

Tuition

The tuition fee is UGX 3,276,000/= (three million two hundred seventy six thousand shillings only) per year. This excludes research costs.

For inquiries contact:

Dr Nnassuuna Musoke Meresiane

Project Coordinator

Agro-ecology in practice Education and Training

Faculty of Agriculture

Uganda Martyrs University

P.O. Box 5498

Kampala, Uganda.

Tel: +256-382 410611,Or +256-(0)414-236931

Fax: +256-382 410100

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Applications may be obtained from;

The Registrar,

Uganda Martyrs University

P.O. Box 5498

Kampala

Tel: +256-(0)454-660084

Fax +256-382 410100

E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

http://www.umu.ac.ug, Or http://www.fiuc.org/umu

Or

Downloaded from www.umu.ac.ug

Or

Visit our Kampala Campus at the Uganda Catholic Social Training Centre - Rubaga

Masaka Office, located at Social Centre - Bwala.

Mbale Office, located at St Austin Social Centre.

NB: Information contained on his page is subject to change without prior notice