Background of the Program

The agricultural sector greatly influences economic performance in Ethiopia. With a total area of about 1.13 million km² and about 51.3 million hectares of arable land, Ethiopia has a great potential for agricultural development. However, only about 11.7 million hectares of land (22.8%) is currently being cultivated. Nearly 55% of all smallholder farmers operate on one hectare or less. The agricultural sector employs over 85% of the labour force, contributing about 43% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 90% of export income.

The country has diverse physical and social environments and a great diversity of tropical, subtropical and temperate climates, soil and vegetation. The variability in environmental factors has an important implication on the diversity of plants in the country. The elevations provide for temperature differences for growing several kinds of crops. A wide variety of crops are found growing in various parts of the country. In the highlands, where cool temperature prevails, common temperate crops are grown. Many tropical and sub-tropical crops are also grown in low to mid altitudes of the country. The country is a center of origin and/or diversity for many plant species including several cultivated crops, such as coffee, sorghum, “teff”, durum wheat, finger millet, barley, “noug”, safflower, sesame, castor bean, faba bean, etc.

In the highlands of the country, where more than 75% of its population dwell, crop production is the predominant agricultural activity supplemented with livestock production. The crop production system is smallholder dominated farming practiced under rainfed condition, which is characterized by subsistence farming with crop and livestock husbandry typically put under the same management unit.

The dry lands cover about 66.6% of the total landmass of the country. These are areas of low and poorly distributed rainfall, which adversely affects growing crops. As the human population increases, the impact of drought, land degradation and subsequent food shortage is increasing in severity in these areas.

Despite of its high potential of crop production, the country is facing the problems of food shortages and cash crops and hence has not been able to achieve food security and self-sufficiency to feed its ever-increasing population, and to obtain sufficient foreign exchange to purchase agricultural and industrial inputs. Crop yields have remained extremely low,

although research results show that there is tremendous potential to increase production and productivity. Low agricultural productivity can be attributed to limited access, by smallholder farmers, to agricultural inputs, improved production technologies, irrigation and agricultural markets, and more importantly, to poor land management practices that have led to severe land degradation.

Current crop production and productivity of the country in general can be reversed and increased through the use of improved production technologies, reduction of pre- and post-harvest crop losses, and efficient use and proper management of natural resources. This can be attained if and only if a large number of well trained and qualified human resources is involved in all processes of technology generation, dissemination and development.

1. Rationale of the Program and the Need to Change the Curriculum from Modularized to Semester course wise

This program is designed to respond to immediate needs of the country to increase crop production and productivity and thereby contribute to improve the livelihood of its people. The program aims at producing competent professionals who are well equipped with both theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in managing all aspects of plant production and

management in the Ethiopian context and, thereby to conduct various plant science related research and development activities, which can contribute to the country’s development program.

Some of the challenges facing the agricultural sector currently are inappropriate, exploitative and unscientifically planned natural resources‟ utilization and management; serious environmental degradation on the cultivated and potentially cultivable lands by over-farming, over-grazing and over-deforestation; biotic and abiotic stresses decreasing the productivity of land; and climate change. Thus, there is an increasing demand from the stakeholders and the country at large for trained/highly qualified and skilled professionals to take care of and tackle the multifaceted problems related to agriculture and development of natural resources.

The curriculum is designed in convention way where courses are set to be completed semester wise. There are a number of reasons to change the modularized curriculum into the conventional which is semester course wise. Firstly, the courses in modularized curriculum

are organized to be offered in few weeks (eight weeks) which do not give enough time for the students to understand and absorb the courses in this short time. Furthermore, the time allotted for each course in modularized curriculum is not sufficient for the preparation and undertaking of practical and laboratory classes. The other rationale for modularizing the curriculum was to certify students with module(s) completed if a student discontinued his/her study before completing the program for various reasons. However, certification for a module(s) never practiced so far for reasons unknown. Furthermore, the job market in the country is not set-up or structured to employ students discontinued his/her study before completing the program with certificates in various modules in the program and further, there is a general fear that a student with certificate in module(s) but failed in others may not be competent enough to discharge his/her responsibility in the field of Plant Sciences or related fields. The other issue in the modularized curriculum is attaching student‟s workload for courses in the respective modules, but the fact that students joining the program come from different experiences, study habits and understanding levels which means prescribing the same workload for a course for the whole students seems not rational. Thus, the current curriculum is designed in conventional way where courses are designed to be completed in semester wise.

Program objectives

The ultimate aim of the program is to improve crop production and productivity and ensure sustainable use of natural resources in the country, thereby contributing to improvement of the livelihood of the nation. Such a program seeks to produce competent professionals who are equipped with both academic and practical knowledge and skills in managing all phases of the crop production and management; and conducting various research and extension activities which can contribute to the development of the country and ensuring food security and self-sufficiency.

The specific objectives of the program are:

To produce adequate and well-trained manpower that will regionally, nationally and internationally contribute to generation, dissemination and adoption of improved plant

production and protection technologies;

To provide students with basic and applied knowledge of natural resources (soils, agricultural waters and forestry); and field, horticultural and industrial crops production and protection;

To enable the students, understand and comprehend problems in crop production and seek solutions through exposure to research, extension and management;

To enable the students, gain the skill and knowledge of proper management and conservation of natural resources and protecting the environment;

To provide the students with the knowledge of handling plants and their products;

To integrate training-research-extension to increase the efficiency of plant technology generation, dissemination and adoption by end-users and, thereby, contribute to the intended regional and national development;

To enable students to conduct relevant research in plant science in problems that affect the region and the nations; and

To provide professional services to the community and policy makers at large.

Graduate Profile

Graduates of the department of plant sciences program are well equipped with knowledge, skills and attitude needed to:

Promote and disseminate agricultural technology through training of farmers and extension worker;

Identify and analyse problems related to plant sciences and devise appropriate solutions;

Plan, implement, monitor and evaluate programs/projects related to plant production, protection and management in sustainable base;

Involve in research undertakings in the areas of plant production, plant protection, and natural resources;

Design and conduct trainings for specialized skill and knowledge in areas of plant sciences;

Assist policy makers and development practitioners on appropriate plant sciences and natural resources management techniques;

Generate self-employment, establish and mange private enterprises related to their profession and related fields; and

Involve in consultancy and advisory services in the field of plant sciences.

Academic Requirements

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to BSc. in Plant Science, candidates should fit to admission requirement to Ethiopian higher education institutions upon successful completion of a one year freshman program in natural science. Placement of students to the program abides to the Arsi University affirmative regulation. Others like re-admission and advanced standing shall be treated according to the academic rules and regulations of the Arsi universities. Students who graduated with diploma in the field of Horticulture, Plant sciences, General Agriculture and other related fields from recognized institutions can also apply to pursue their studies in regular, summer and extension programs based on the Arsi university legislations.

Duration of Study

4 years for regular undergraduate program.

Graduation Requirements

Students will be eligible for graduation upon successful completion of a minimum total credit hours of 152 and Maximum load of 154(there are two elective courses in the program; a student must register for 50% of the elective courses credit hours set for the regular program).
At the end of the program, the student is required to have a 2.0 or higher cumulative grade point average (CGPA) overall courses and no “F” grade in any course (s) taken.

Completion of all required courses in the program.

Medium of Instruction

The medium of instruction for the program is ENGLISH.

Degree Nomenclature

The under graduate Plant Science major program leads to a certification referred in English as: Bachelor of Science Degree in Plant Sciences), In Amharic: “`ባችለር የሳይንስ ዲግሪ በእፅዋት ሳይንስ”.

About Department of Plant Science