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Info @ SAFT - School of Agriculture and Food Technology |
Student enrolments
Student enrolment in DFL Agriculture courses increased significantly, rising from 228 in 2003 to 276 in 2004, an increase of about 23 percent. However, the number of undergraduate face-to-face students remained constant at 116 - made up of 24 Diploma and 92 degree students. There were six (6) postgraduate students enrolled in the School during the year, as against eight (8) in 2003.
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By: Dr. Adama A. Ebenebe
(Lecturer in Crop Protection, SAFT)
A new course recently introduced in the revised curriculum of the School of Agriculture and Food Technology (SAFT) – USP Alafua Campus - has boosted the practical learning experience of students in crop protection/production. The course, AG268 - Pathogens and Pests of Crops, was introduced to strengthen crop protection learning and teaching at SAFT. A major thrust of this course is ‘taking the learning experience to the field’. Emphasis is placed on using field work components to complement learning that occurs through lectures and laboratory exercises. A dedicated garden plot project allows participants of the course to grow a variety of crop plants and monitor for and identify pests, diseases and other crop abnormalities. The semester-long hands-on experience of observing organisms in a crop ecosystem provides an authentic learning opportunity for students to develop a deeper understanding of, and an appreciation for, the importance of biodiversity in crop fields and the environment in general, as they observe and discover for themselves the various roles played by different organisms. Commenting on their experiences in the course, here are samples of what the 2010 participants of the course had to say:
“Though lots of hard work and time are needed to successfully carry out the exercises, the garden plot project is a worthwhile exercise in terms of agriculture learning. It integrates what is learned in the class and the reality of life in the field.”
“The AG268 garden plot project was a great accomplishment, providing students with a tremendous opportunity to gain additional knowledge and experience with common crop pests.”
“Overall, this project was a good experience for me because it exposed me to the tasks normally carried out by farmers. And most importantly, as a future agriculturist, this project increased my skills and knowledge on the major components of a crop ecosystem.”
“After completion of this garden plot project, it could be concluded that it is a very exciting, experimenting activity. The project relates the students to the real life situation faced by farmers everyday ....... and most importantly, to the importance of agronomic practices, early detection of pests and diseases and when to implement control measures.”
“I have learned and noticed several things from this garden plot: when to look for organisms in the plot; ways of identifying organisms found in the plot; common practices for managing crops, such as mulching and staking of plants. In addition, I have learned that not all organisms found in a plot are harmful.”
“This garden plot project has helped me a lot in the sense that I learned, in a practical way, what I have been taught in the classroom. It helped me to acquire knowledge and skills that I need to know so that I will be able to carry them out in the field. I have learned a lot from it by being able to observe and identify organisms in the garden plot and being able to determine whether they are beneficial or harmful to crops. It has also broadened my understanding of the course through personal observations of some things that I have not been taught in the classroom. Likewise, it enabled me to discover some things that I have never known or come across in my life.”
“The garden plot provided heaps of information to increase knowledge and skills for observation and identification of beneficial organisms and insect pests, weeds, and other abnormalities of crop plants, and relating them to environmental factors. This learning experience developed psychomotor skills and will become very handy for future field queries regarding pests and abnormalities in plants.”
The participants are also encouraged to suggest ways to improve the learning experience for future students who undertake this course.
