INTRODUCTION

These regulations should be read in conjunction with the Faculty Regulations and the

General Academic Regulations for Undergraduate Degree programmes herein referred to as General Regulations.

OBJECTIVES

2.1 To develop an agricultural economics and development related degree programme relevant to Zimbabwe and the developing regions through contributing towards sustainable food production, natural resources management and overall economic growth.

 2.2 To respond to stakeholders’ needs for viability related to Agricultural and Natural Resources Management, through teaching research and extension.

2.3   Provision of a supportive environment for the theory and practice of Economics of Agriculture and Development in Natural Resources Management and Agriculture.

2.4  Production of competitive and innovative graduates for various career opportunities in private and public sectors as well as self-employment.

2.5       Creation of an understanding of a holistic or integrated systems approach to agricultural development and related Natural Resources Management.

3 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

3.1 Normal Entry

Prospective students should have at least five ‘O’ Level passes including English Language, Science and at least a B in Mathematics and any two ‘A’ Level passes in the following subjects Agriculture, Mathematics, Economics, Management of Business, Sociology, Accounts, Geography and Biology.

3.2 Special Entry

Relevant Diploma based on departmental board evaluation

3.3 Programme Characteristics

Areas of study: Micro/Macro/Environment Economics for Agriculture, Agricultural Development, Econometrics

Specialist Focus: Agricultural Value Chains Data, Policy analysis, Value Chain Development

Orientation:     Oriented towards innovation and application of theory to solve real-life problems

Distinctive Features:   Knowledge of the role of agricultural entrepreneurship and marketing in agriculture, agribusiness and agro-industrial development.

 

4 Career Opportunities and Further Education

Employability:           Private Sector – Bankers, commodity brokers, Agribusiness Finance Managers, Applied Economists, Consultants, Marketing Agents/Sales Representatives, Extensionists, education, real estate, and public relations.

Public Sector – Researchers (Applied Economists, Marketing Agents,) Extensionists, Lecturers, natural resource and environmental management, Education and Public Relations

Self-Employment – Farmers, Consultants

Further Studies:        Masters and Doctoral studies in Agricultural Economics and Development, Economics, Development, Policy

 

5 GENERAL PROVISIONS

• The BSc in Agricultural Economics and Development is a four-year full-time programme.
• In level 3, all students will be on Work-Related Learning for a minimum period of ten months. During the same period, students will be expected to carry out a research project.
• A student shall be enrolled for at least five modules at any time during the semester, two of which should be core/compulsory.
• Students can include in their programme of study, modules offered by other departments.
• Students may be allowed to change registration for modules taken in any semester only during the first two weeks of registration.

 

6 ASSESSMENT

 Refer to Section 6 of General Regulations and Section 5 of Faculty Regulations.

 

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE 

The degree programme shall have at least 32 taught modules spread over the six teaching semesters..

Level 1 Semester 1

Code	Module Title	Prerequisite	Credits
*AGRO135	Plant Biology and Physiology		12
*AGPR131	Agricultural Practice I		12
*LWR135	Principles of Soil Sciences		12
*CS131	Basic Communication Skills		12
*HCS135	Introduction to Information Technology		12
*AGED131	Introduction to Agricultural Economics		12
*AGED133	Mathematics for Agricultural Economics		12
*AGED139	Introduction to Agricultural Planning & Development		12

Level 1 Semester 2

Code	Module Title	Prerequisite	Credits
*AGED132	Micro Economics for Agriculture 1	AGED131	12
*AGED134	Macro-Economics for Agricultural Economics 1	AGED131	12
*AGED135	Introduction to Rural Sociology		12
*AGED138	Statistics for Agricultural Economics		12
*AGPR132	Agricultural Practice II	AGPR 131	12
*HAWS122	Principles of Animal Production		12
*AGRO133	Principles of Crop Production		12

Level 2 Semester 1

Code	Module Title	Prerequisite	Credits
*AEGS231	Gender Studies		12
*AGED232	Financial Management		12
*AGED233	Microeconomics for Agricultural Economics 11		12
*AGED234	Macroeconomics for Agricultural Economics 11		12
*AGED231	NGOs and Agricultural Development		12

Level 2 Semester 2

Code	Module Title	Prerequisite	Credits
*AGED235	Economics of Environmental Management		12
*AGED236	Research Methods for Agricultural Economics		12
*AGED237	Agribusiness Management		12
*AGED238	Econometrics 1		12
*AGED239	Project Management		12
*AGED240	Farm Business Management		12
AGRO234	Value addition in Agriculture (Optional)		12
LWR246	Climate Change and Adaptation (Optional)		12

Level 3 Semester 1: Work-Related Learning

Code	Module Title	Prerequisite	Credits
*AGPR330	Work-Related Preliminary Report		30

Level 3 Semester 2: Work-Related Learning

Code	Module Title	Prerequisite	Credits
*AGPR331	Work-Related Learning Report	All Level 1.1 modules	45
*AGPR332	Academic Supervisor’s Assessment Report	All Level 1.1 modules	30
*AGPR333	Employer’s Assessment Report	All Level 1.1 modules	45

Level 4 Semester 1

Code	Module Title	Prerequisite	Credits
*AGED431	Agricultural Price Analysis and Forecasting		12
*AGED432	Agricultural Policy Analysis		12
*AGED435	International Trade and Policy		12
*AGED438	Agricultural Production Economics	AGED233	12

Options: (Choose 1)

Code	Module Title	Prerequisite	Credits
AGED437	Banking and Capital Markets	AGED232	12
AGED440	Econometrics 11	AGED238	12

Level 4 Semester 2

Code	Module Title	Prerequisite	Credits
*AGED433	Entrepreneurship in Agriculture		12
*AGED436	Insurance and Risk Management in Agriculture		12
*AGED439	Agricultural Extension		12
*AGED434	Disaster and Relief Management		12
*AGED414	Dissertation	AGED236	12

 

MODULE SYNOPSES

AGPR 131 Agricultural Practice 1

Farm orientation, Poultry production/ Feed mixing (University farm), Soil sampling and crop fertilization, Plant population and yield estimation, Irrigation scheduling, Blood samples and smears, Administering veterinary drugs, Cattle identification and detention, Surveying in agriculture, Introduction to vegetable production, Farm week practicals (all semesters), Crops planting and fertilizing, Pig production(examined in semester 1.1), Dairying university farm (examined in semester  1.1)

AGPR 132 Agricultural Practice II

Pig production at University farm, Dairying of University farm, Control of internal parasites in livestock, Use and calibration and spraying equipment, Ox harness and use of ox-drawn ploughs, Tractor handling and ploughing/ contour construction,  Soil coding for land classification, Vegetation coding in rangeland management,  Farm budgets and Agric financing, Castration and dehorning (large and small stock), Game farming- visit a commercial undertaking, Field visits: i) research station/ research trials ii) Large scale/ small scale farming

AGED 131 Introduction to Agricultural Economics

Economic systems and organization, theory of supply and demand, market equilibrium and nature of markets. Micro – economics. Macro – Economics. The consumption, investment and savings functions. The international economy. Monetary and fiscal policies. Employment and growth policies. The role of the agricultural industry in the national economy.

AGED 132 Micro economics for Agriculture 1

Economics of agricultural production- theoretical foundations; Physical and economic relations, The factor- product relationship, the factor- factor relationship, the product- product relationship. The product supply and input demand; Product supply, Demand for inputs. Production Economics; Efficiency of resource use, Technical, Allocative and Economic efficiency, Risk and uncertainty. Economics of market demand

AGED 133 Mathematics for Agricultural Economics

The module is designed to give students a basic understanding of mathematical tools and techniques required in economics, policy formulation and business decision-making. The module seeks to show the relevance of mathematical tools/concepts such as integration linear algebra, differentiation and optimization theory in the field of economics. Trigonometry, probability, functions, graphs, solving equations, matrix algebra, multivariate calculus, differentiation and integration

AGED 134 Macro economics for Agriculture 1

 Definition of macro-economics. The module will look into the branch of economics at the national level through variables such as macro-economic issues, inflation, the gross national product, employment, national accounting, demand/supply, national economics equilibrium, monetary policy, bank rate, foreign currency reserves and balance of payments, foreign currency exchange market, food policy, agricultural policies, and production theories and agriculture at the elementary level.

CS131 Basic Communication Skills

Refer to the Department of Communication Skills

HCS135 Introduction to Information Technology

Refer to the Department of Computer Science

AGRO135 Plant Biology & Physiology

Refer to the Department of Livestock and Wildlife Management.

LWR135 Principles of Soil Science

Refer to the Department of Land and Water Resources Management.

AGED 135 Introduction to Rural Sociology

Examining Rural social systems and structures and how they impact positively or negatively on development. Examining social change theories and how they relate to the development discourse

AGED139 Introduction to Agricultural Planning & Development

Theoretical approaches used to study organization and management, Examines the structure and behaviour as well as the main tasks of management. Looking in detail and questioning the applicability of management theory. Examining the application of management theory in relation to specific areas of activity. Current theory issues in reformation and improving management of Agricultural Development.

HAWS 122 Principles of Animal Production

Refer to the Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences.

AGRO103 Principles of Crop Production

Refer to the Department of Agronomy.

AGED 232 Financial Management

Sources of agricultural finance in Zimbabwe. Interest rates. Working capital. Capital budgeting and appraisal techniques. Case studies of capitalization schemes. Cashflow budgeting. Basic interpretation of financial accounts; profitability analysis and ratios; equity ratios; Working capital ratios. Contracting as a source of financing. Impact of national programmes in agricultural finance and development. Taxation.

AGED 233 M1CRO – Economics for Agriculture 11

Basic demand relationships, Elasticity of demand, Homogeneity condition. Developments in demand theory; New theories of demand, Equilibrium and Exchange, Definition of equilibrium, Partial vs General equilibrium, Interference with equilibrium. Analysis of agricultural markets, Competitive markets and Pareto optimality, Policy intervention in markets.  Welfare Economics and Economics of trade. Food and Agricultural policy.

AGED 234     Macro economics for Agriculture 11

Looks at economic behaviour and policies related to consumption, savings, investment, balance of trade, equilibrium in the goods and money market, domestic and international debt, and their implication in a more rigorous manner

AGED 235 Economics of Environmental Management

Environment and the micro-economy; Markets, Market failure and property rights, Government property rights, Economic instruments for environmental management, Attaching money values to environmental goods.  Environment and the macro-economy; the green economy, Macroeconomic policy and the environment, Environment and the international economy, Environmental regulation, comparative advantage and international competitiveness, trans boundary externalities and environmental policy, trade liberalization and environmental impacts, Economics of pollution control, theory of pollution economics, the practical use of economic instruments in pollution control, Natural resource economics Management of renewal resources,  market and institutional failure in the natural resource sector

ENT205 Entrepreneurship

Refer to the Department of Entrepreneurship.

LWR246 Climate Change and Adaptation

Refer to the Department of Land and Water Resources Management.

AGED 236 Research Methods

Research proposal formulation, problem definition, methods of data collection, Questionnaire formulation, and interviewing techniques, sampling procedures for surveys, organisation and implementation of surveys, survey quality control, analyses and interpretation, and results presentation. Software; SPSS, GENSTAT, SAS etc

AGED 237 Agribusiness Management

The module seeks to appropriately recall all values from other modules and contextualize them to advantage Agricultural Business Management through: Forms of business and analysis of business environment. Value chain in agricultural operations. Management principles. Cooperate governance. Operations research. Agribusiness viability and analysis.

AGED 238 Farm Business Management

Background: Functions of management-Forms of business organization in commercial agriculture.  Farm records and Information systems management.

Labour management farm planning and budgeting Gross Margin Analysis. Whole farm budget and farm planning. Partial budget.  Break-even budget. Cash flow budget. Sources of agricultural finance.  Agricultural Support Schemes with special reference to.Government support scheme.  Contract Production schemes Management of working capital. –Investment appraisal-Stock valuations and depreciation  Farm trading accounts, Profit and loss account, Farm balance sheet, its analysis and interpretation.  Variances analysis, Audit of farm operation and budgetary control. Business ethics.

AGED 238 Econometrics 1

The module gives empirical content to economic theory. Uses mathematics and statistical tools to analyze economic behaviour i.e. estimate relationships, infer the implications of the estimates, test hypotheses about economic behaviour and predict economic behaviour. The tools include regression models, specification testing, general linear models, problems of single equation models and simultaneous equation models. The module content focuses on econometric techniques that provide students with the understanding needed in modern economics.

AEGS231 Gender Studies

The module empowers the students with knowledge and skills that enable them to be gender sensitive in the university, workplace and in all their social interactions. Topics covered include Understanding Gender, Theories of Gender Inequalities, Historical Development of Gender, Gender Analysis, Gender Issues in Zimbabwe, Redressing Gender Imbalances, Empowerment and Strategies for creating a gender-responsive environment.  Every student has to pass the module to graduate.

AGED 239 Project Management

This module is about the modes and mechanisms through which development assistance is channelled, via investment in developing countries, for the promotion of agricultural and rural development. It is thus primarily about the rationale, context, and methods of planning, appraising and evaluating development projects and programmes. Projects and programmes are widely used when attempting to allocate limited resources for specific development purposes as effectively as possible, and a core part of the module is on methods for appraising the financial and economic efficiency of rural and agricultural development projects. These methods of appraisal are informed by economic theories and, in particular, those of applied welfare economics. While the module emphasises financial and economic efficiency, other important issues in assessing project design and impact are presented. Planning and management techniques for the project cycle are covered; including project identification and logical framework analysis. Approaches for social and environmental appraisal of projects are also reviewed.

AGED 231 NGOS and Agricultural Development

Types of non – profit organisations in agricultural development. Registration, and management structures of non – profit organizations. Funding and financial management, scope, corporate governance and ethics in NGOs. Civil society theory. Participation theory. NGOs and agricultural development. NGOs and humanitarian relief. farming systems, stakeholder consultations in agricultural development, and links with governmental and other developmental agencies.

AGED 431 Agricultural Price Analysis and Forecasting

This course is aimed at developing an understanding of the principles of price theory and how these principles can be applied to problems in agriculture starting from the supply and demand of agricultural products. The role of price in agricultural production is examined at the onset. Specific topics include price determination and discovery, movement of prices over time and modelling of cycles and seasonality, using index numbers to correct for inflation, detailed analysis of agricultural commodities price trends, empirical estimation of demand and supply, demand shift and income effect, supply response and long-term competitiveness.  Students are also introduced to the modelling of market structures, market outlook and different methods of forecasting prices, and hedging and its effectiveness for agricultural commodities.

AGED 432 Policy Analysis

This course offers a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding agricultural and food policy in Zimbabwe and the world. It examines the agricultural policy process in terms of rationale, content, and consequences. It thereby helps students develop a better understanding of policy-making entities at various levels of government. It also provides a broad understanding of how policy actions in agriculture impact not only farmers’ incomes, but also the well-being of consumers, the economic viability of rural communities, and the quality of our nation’s environmental resources. Looks at economic behaviour and policies related to consumption, savings, investment, the balance of trade, equilibrium in the goods and money market, domestic and international debt, and their implication in a more rigorous manner.

AGED 433 Entrepreneurship in Agriculture

Role of entrepreneurship in agricultural development and the economy.  Theories of entrepreneurship. Processes of establishing a business. Sources of funding. Feasibility studies. Planning production and marketing of enterprise. Entrepreneurship and public policy. Characteristics, nature and problems of small agricultural ventures. Advantages and disadvantages of big versus small. Management techniques. Linkages.

AGED 434 Disaster and Relief Management

Introduction to disaster management. Assessment of disasters and emergency complex situations. Impact of disasters on communities and agriculture. Needs analysis during disasters. Disaster management and recovery plans. Ethics in disaster management. Long-term planning in disaster management. Case studies of disasters affecting agriculture and communities.

AGED 435 International Trade and Policy           

International trade familiarizes students with theories and policies that guide international trade. This course is usually taken in one of the first semesters of a degree program. Students learn why international trade is important for Zimbabwe and other nations, and they examine how it affects production, profit and the economy.

AGED 436 Insurance and Risk Management in Agriculture

Concepts of risk management in agriculture. Theories and definitions of risk management. The measurement of risk. And the stochastic basis of risk. The Beta. Risk adjustment methods and techniques used in dealing with risk, risk financing techniques. Hedging against risk, the futures options and contracts. Insurance in agriculture; crop, animal, farm vehicles. Policy wordings, underwriting and claims.

AGED 437 Banking and Capital Markets

The course deals with the description of the activities of banks in agriculture, financial intermediaries, central banks, regulatory agencies, and monetary theory. Money market institutions. Capital market institutions. It shores up knowledge in bank management and capital markets as they relate to agriculture.

AGED 438 Agricultural Production Economics

Resource allocation, production selection, and scale of operation of agricultural firms including risk and uncertainty associated with agricultural production. Analysis of agricultural production economic models using econometrics, mathematical programming and simulation. Introduction to the systems science perspective. Techniques for Analysis of Risk, environmental Value, technological change and technology adoption.

AGED 439 Agricultural Extension

BACKGROUND:  history of agricultural extension in Zimbabwe- Definition of extension. Extension ethics- communication skills: Mass media: Kinescis: art of listening. Conducting successful meetings. Extension methods and training programme planing: projects, programmes and Policy in Agricultural Extension- interpretation of Agricultural policy and planning programmes. Farmer participation in extension programme planning, monitoring and evaluation.  Research – Extension- Linkages. Agricultural extension change management and support- what is change management- Donor Organisations in agricultural development and extension. Privatization of extension services- is this an option for the future? Female Extension Agents and Gender in Agricultural development and extension- Agrarian reform- challenges for extension.

AGED 440 Econometrics 11

This module in econometrics is designed to provide students will the tools required to evaluate and carry out empirical research. It focuses on the violation of classical liner regression model assumptions. Issues such as heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation, model specification and multicollinearity are discussed. Modelling with dummy variables, simultaneous equations, time series and panel data econometrics will be studied.

AGED 414 Dissertation

This is a scientific report of between 15 000 and 20 000 words, based on supervised research by the student. The dissertation should be presented to a panel of the Departmental Board,