Bonga University

College of Agriculture and Natural Resource

Program: Natural Resource Management
Course Titles/Codes  Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture /NaRM2101
Course Credit  3(2+1)
Course Information Target Group 2rd year regular
Academic Year 2018/19              Semester  II
Meeting Location/Room:     Meeting days: Monday-Friday
Module Name/No. NRs and Sustainable Agriculture NaRM-M2101
Instructor (s) Name Name: Seid Mohammed
and Contact Email  : seido.muhammad@gmail.com
Information Office hour: ………………….
Course Credit  3(2+1)
ECTS 5
Student’s Work Load  Lecture Practical Home Study Total
(hours)
32 16 87 135
Course Description The course is designed to provide a foundation of knowledge for students in some
important general concepts and terminologies with respect to sustainable
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.
Learning Outcome At the end of course work, the students will be able 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
 Enable students understand the livestock resources available and how these
resources are being managed and combined in order to produce various
livestock products without harming the environment
 Enable students understand the relationship that exists between livestock
production and its environment
 Equip student how to establish friendly relationship between the various
farming practices and its environment so as to make the system sustainable
 Become acquainted with all types of problems, measure and means to
develop sustainable agricultural practices
Pre-requisites None
Schedule
Week Lectur References
e hour

4 hr 1. Introduction Integrating Sustainable

1.1 The Art and Science of sustainable agriculture Agriculture, Ecology, and
1 1.2 Sustainable Agriculture: Principle and Practice Environmental Policy, Richard K.
1.3 Objectives of Sustainable Agriculture Olson
1.4 Benefit of Sustainable Agriculture
1.5 Elements of Sustainability
1.6 Achieving Sustainability
1 hr 2. Cropping Systems
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Terms and Definitions
2
2.3 Types of cropping systems
3 4 hr 3. 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
2hr 4. Major Field Crops Grown in Ethiopia
4.1 Cereals
4.2 Grain Pulses
3 hr 5. Introduction to animal production
5.1History and domestication of animals
5.2 Role of livestock production
5.3 General role of livestock in Ethiopian
Agriculture
5.4 Livestock Nutrition
5.5Constraints to livestock production and
productivity
5.6. Livestock improvement
2 hr 6. Livestock Production systems
6.1 Extensive production systems
6.1.1 Pastoralism
6.1.2 Ranching
6.2 Semi- intensive systems
6.2.1Crop- livestock production system
6.3 Intensive systems
1 hr 7. Poultry Production and Management
7.1. Poultry Reproduction
7.2. Reproductive Differences of Poultry from Other 
Livestock
1 hr 8.Apiculture
8.1 Beekeeping in Ethiopia
8.2 Types of bee castes
8.3 Beekeeping systems
8.4 Bee products and their uses
1 hr 9. Fishery
7.1 Fishery resources
7.2 Economic importance of fishery
3 hr 10. 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?
 Introduction to animal Science
STEPHEN RERE, 1998.
 A text Book of Animal
Husbandry G.C.Banerjee.
Eighth edition. 1998.
 Introduction to animal Science
STEPHEN RERE, 1998.
 A text Book of Animal
Husbandry G.C.Banerjee.
Eighth edition. 1998.
 Introduction to animal Science
STEPHEN RERE, 1998.
A text Book of Animal
Husbandry G.C.Banerjee.
Eighth edition. 1998.
 Beekeeping E.F.Phillips 2006.
Page 205-217, 421-442
 Integrating Sustainable
Agriculture, Ecology, and
Environmental Policy, Richard
K. Olson
 Sustainable Development:
Concepts, Issues and Policies
in OECD countries,
Sustainable Economics
 3 hr 11. Sustainable Agri-business  Integrating Sustainable
Agriculture, Ecology, and
11.1 Agri-business (value add, marketing, Environmental Policy, Richard
certification, organic inspection, finding buyers, K. Olson
collaborative and cooperative marketing,  Sustainable Development:
Agricultural Competiveness etc) Concepts, Issues and Policies
in OECD countries,
Sustainable Economics
3 hr 12. Innovations for Sustainable Agriculture
12.1Fertilizer Tree  Integrating Sustainable
Agriculture, Ecology, and
12.2 Perennial Crops
Environmental Policy, Richard
12.3 Cover Crops K. Olson
 Sustainable Development:
12.4 Small Livestock Productions Concepts, Issues and Policies
in OECD countries,
12.5 Crop-livestock (mixed) production systems
Sustainable Economics
12.6 Policy- Accessing Product to Market
Practical session:
1. Visit the nearby agricultural fields
2. Visit Greenhouse Floriculture farm
3. Visit Poultry farm
4. Visit Dairy farm
5. Visit Apiaries
6. Visit farmers cooperatives

Assessment/Evaluation
Assessment is carried out both as a continuous process during course delivery, which constitutes 50%
weight in the total mark and final exam, which constitutes maximum of 50%.
The assessment methods involved are summarized as follow:
 Continuous assessment [Quiz, Test results, Group assignment reports, Individual assignment reports,
Practical session participation/Field work or visit, Project work and Class activity]
Final exam
Attendance requirement: 85 % Lecture, 100% Practical
Grading: As per the harmonized modular curriculum

Course Policy

All students are expected to abide by the code of conduct of students of the Senate legislation of
the University throughout this course.