Course programme, Regional
MSc course (27 credits)
2001 - 2003
| Course outlines | Mini-Projects (2001-03) | Research theses (2001-03) |
Course
1. Participatory
rural appraisal methodologies. 3 credits. Level D.
The students carry out
participatory rural appraisal exercises in villages in areas where the host
institutions have ongoing related research projects.
Course 2: Use
of micro-computors for recording, analysis and presentation oJ research data.
2
credits. Level A.
Each student is provided
with a lap-top computer and appropriate software for personal use during the
duration of the course. The students learn to use the different software
programmes that are appropriate for recording, analysis, presentation and
publishing of their research.
Course 3: Statistical analysis and experimental
design. 2 credits. Level A.
Students become familiar
with procedures for analysis of data by descriptive statistics, analysis of
variance and covariance, correlation and regression, non-linear parameters and
transformations.
Course
4: Renewable energy. 2 credits. Level C
Trends in production and
use of energy derived from fossil and renewable sources are discussed with
emphasis on needs, uses and opportunities for agricultural production.
The topics for discussion include biodigesters (biogas), solar systems
(electricity and water heating), windmills and mini-hydro (electricity),
gasifiers and gas turbines (cogeneration of
electricity and heat) and fuel cells (electricity).
This course focuses on:
·
Sources of livestock feeds (high
biomass crops, crop residues and agro-industrial byproducts, trees and
water plants) and the factors influencing their nutritive value for all classes
of livestock;
· Digestive physiology and metabolism of herbivore and
monogastric animal species; Requirements for nutrient according to productive
function;
·
Appropriate analytical methods.
Course 6: Animal traction. 2 credits. Level C.
Feeding
and management of draft animals with many farm visits and an emphasis on
practical aspects.
Course
7: Soil-plant-animal interactions. 2 credits. Level C.
Emphasis
is on the role of livestock as a means of maintaining / improving soil fertility
and plant growth through recycling of manure and its transformation into
nutrient-rich effluent (by biodigesters) and humus (by earthworms).
Course
8: Small ruminant livestock production systems. 2 credits. Level C.
Smallholder
production systems for sheep and goats are discussed with particular attention
to feeding and management strategies and the opportunities for control of
parasites in “cut-and-carry” systems integrated with agro-forestry.
Course
9: Livestock integrated with tree crops. 2 credits.
Level C.
This
course will discuss the opportunities for integration of small ruminant
livestock with commercial tree crops such as Rubber, African Oil Palm and
Coconuts, with field trips to estates in Malaysia.
Course 10: Farming systems research methodology. 2
credits. Level C.
Evolution
of agricultural and farming systems research and the recent emphasis on farmer's
knowledge, farmer's research and experimentation and farmer's participatory
research. The course is based on the views and experience of the course
participants and the course facilitator.
Course
11: Sloping land farming systems. 2 credits. Level C.
Traditional
“slash and burn” farming systems are discussed in the light of pressures on
land which have made these unsustainable. Farming
systems based on agro-forestry principles are described as the sustainable
alternative.
Course
12: Large ruminant nutrition and production systems. 2
credits. Level C
Smallholder
beef, dairy and dual-purpose systems, in particular feeding and management
strategies in zero-grazing systems in high potential areas in Asia based on crop
residues and agro-industrial by-products, and also peri-urban systems.
Course 13: Agroforestry. 2 credits. Level C.
The
general agronomic principles of agroforestry. Use of multipurpose trees for
fodder, fuel and mulch in integrated small-holder farmer systems
Course 14: Range management. 2 credits. Level C.
Basic
principles of range ecology, range resource assessment including the concept of
carrying capacity, range management techniques (traditional and modern),
pastoral systems, nutritional value of range vegetation and possibilities to
improve.
Course
15: Poultry and pig nutrition & production
systems. 2 credits. Level C.
Smallholder
pig and poultry systems, in particular feeding and management strategies based
on the sustainable use of renewable natural resources for monogastrics. The
relationship between village pig and poultry systems and other components of the
farming system, e.g. fish-duck-rice system, peri-urban systems.
Course 16: Aquaculture.
2 credits. Level C.
The
integration of smallholder aquaculture with livestock, including the role of
biodigesters and emphasizing the environmental and socio-economic aspects of
these integrated systems.
Course 17: Livestock
research methodology. 2 credits. Level D.
Research
plans for the thesis work are gradually developed and the proposals are
presented and discussed by the group of students and facilitators.