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Department of Agricultural Economics & Extension |
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Academic Programmes
Agricultural Economics Option
Year 3
First Semester
AEC 311-3 Mathematical Economics
AEC 312-3 Introduction to Farm Management and Accounting
AEX 312-3 Agricultural Extension Administration and Management
AEC 313-3 Microeconomics for Agriculture
AEC 314-3 Research Methods
AEC 315-3 Agriculture and International Trade
AGR 311-3 Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture
Electives (Take Any One)
ANS 312-3 Principles of Animal Husbandry and Health
SSR 311-3 Introductory Soil and Water Conservation
Sub-total 24 Credit Hours
Second Semester
AEC 321-3 Farm Management Applications
AEC 322-3 Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives
AEC 323-3 Macroeconomics for Agriculture
AEX 323-3 Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
AEC 324-3 Introduction to Econometrics
AEC 325-3 Production Economics
Electives (Take Any One)
CPS 322-3 Principles of Irrigation
CPS 323-3 Arable Crop Production
ANS 323-3 Poultry Production
SSR 323-3 Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition
Sub-total 21 Credit Hours
Total 24 + 21 = 45 Credit Hours
Year 4
First Semester
AEC 411-3 Economics of Agricultural Development
AEC 412-3 Agricultural Policy
AEC 413-3 Agricultural Credit and Finance
AEC 414-3 Resource Economics
AEC 415-3 Operations Research
AGR 411-3 Farming Systems
AEC 444-6AB Agricultural Economics Project/Student Seminar
Sub-total 24 Credit Hours
Second Semester
AEX 423-3 Agricultural Extension Programme Planning
AEC 421-3 Agricultural Development Planning
AEC 422-3 Advanced Econometrics
AEC 423-3 Agribusiness Management
AEC 424-3 Agricultural Project Planning and Evaluation
AEC 425-3 Agricultural Price Analysis
Sub-total 18 Credit Hours
Total 24 + 18 = 42 Credit Hours
B.SC. AGRIC. EXTENSION OPTION
Year 3
First Semester
AEX 311-3 Adult and Non-Formal Education
AEX 312-3 Agricultural Extension Administration and Management
AEX 314-3 Philosophy of Agricultural Extension
AEC 314-3 Research Methods
AGR 311-3 Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture
Electives (Take Any Two)
ANS 311-3 Principles of Animal Husbandry and Health
SSR 312-3 Soil Science
CPS 315-5 Crop Protection-Diseases and Pests Control
Sub-total 21/23 Credit Hours
Second Semester
AEX 321-3 Group Participation in Extension
AEX 322-3 Curriculum Development in Agricultural Education and Extension
AEC 321-3 Farm Management Applications
AEX 323-3 Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
Electives (At Least Two)
ANS 323-3 Poultry Production
CPS 322-3 Principles of Irrigation
CPS 323-3 Arable Crop Production
SSR 323-3 Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition
Sub-total 18 Credit Hours
Total 21/23 + 18 = 39/41 Credit Hours
Year 4
First Semester
AEX 411-3 Community Organisation and Leadership in Extension
AEX 412-3 Audio Visual Methods
AEX 413-3 Comparative Extension Systems
AGR 411-3 Farming Systems
AEC 415-3 Operations Research
AEX 444-6 Agricultural Extension Project/Student Seminar
Electives (Take Any One)
AN S412-3 Small Ruminant Production
SSR 412-3 Soil Fertility Evaluation and Management
Sub-total 21 Credit Hours
Second Semester
AEX 421-3 Communication and Agricultural Development
AEX 422-3 Women and Technology in Rural Development
AEX 423-3 Agricultural Extension Programme Planning
AEC 421-3 Agricultural Development Planning
AEC 424-3 Agricultural Project Planning and Evaluation
Electives (Take Any Two)
CPS 422-3 Harvest and Post-harvest Technology
CPS 425-3 Integrated
SSR 423-3 Management of Arid and Semi-Arid lands
ANS 424-4 Livestock Diseases
Total 21/22 Credit Hours
Total 21 + 21/2 = 42/3 Credit Hours
M.Sc. AND Ph.D. PROGRAMMES IN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND RURAL SOCIOLOGY
1. THE GOAL
The M.Sc. and Ph.D. programmes in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Sociology are aimed at training graduates in the following competencies:
Formulating and analyzing government agricultural policies; Formulating and implementing agricultural investment and production alternatives and strategies; Formulating and evaluating agricultural trade and marketing policies; Planning and Management of Extension and Agricultural projects; Resource persons and facilitators in Rural development efforts; Tutors and lecturers in the agricultural training; Staff in adult education programmes with focus on agricultural development; and Community development officers both in the Government and Non-government organisations.
2. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
A candidate for admission to the Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics or Agricultural Extension, shall either hold a B.Sc. agricultural degree or Honours degree in any agricultural discipline which is deemed equivalent to the agricultural degree offered by the National University of Lesotho.
Candidates who have a second class, second division degree and above or the equivalent shall be considered for admission.
Candidates with pass degree can be considered for admission if there is proof of academic potential through extensive Candidates with field work, research experience and additional training (e.g. Postgraduate diploma)
The Ph.D. programme shall mainly be by research and thesis. But a candidate may be required to take one or more postgraduate courses appropriate to the subject area, as prescribed by the Supervisory Committee.
3.0 REGISTRATION
3.1 Candidates shall be registered for Masters degree in Agricultural Economics or agricultural Extension by coursework study followed by research leading to a dissertation.
The duration of registration shall be as stipulated by the Faculty of Agriculture, but it shall not be less than one year.
Candidates who fail to complete their dissertations within the specified period may apply for extension as stipulated in the faculty regulations.
Failure to complete the programmes within the specified periods shall lead to discontinuation from study unless applications for extension have been approved by the relevant University authorities.
4. COURSEWORK EVALUATION
4.1 The coursework portion shall consist of a minimum of 35 credit hours.
4.2 The pass-mark shall be a “C” grade average. Candidates whose average pass is below the above, shall be required to do supplementary examination in the subject failed. Candidates failing supplementary examination shall be discontinued from studies.
4.3 All other evaluation requirements are as stipulated in the faculty regulations.
5. SUBMISSION OF DISSERTATION
To proceed with the research and dissertation phase of the Masters programme, candidates must successfully complete the coursework part with a mean overall grade of “C” or above.
Candidates will be required to submit their dissertations before the expiry of the Registration period.
A dissertation submitted for the Masters degree must be satisfactory as regards the formal and literary presentation as required by the University regulations.
6. EXAMINATION OF DISSERTATION AND DEGREE AWARD
6.1 Every dissertation submitted shall be examined by at least TWO specialists approved by the relevant University authority. At least one of these must be external to the University.
6.2 The final decision on the award of the degree shall be made by the relevant University channel of authority.
M.Sc. PROGRAMME IN AGRICULTURAL AND RESOURCE ECONOMICS
YEAR ONE
First Semester
A CORE COURSES:
AES 611-3 Advanced Microeconomics
AES 612-3 Quantitative and Research Methods in Agriculture
AES 613-3 Applied Econometrics
AES 614-3 Farm Management
B OPTIONAL COURSES
AES 615-3 Benefit-Cost Analysis
AES 616-3 Natural Resources and Environmental Economics
Total Units : 18
Second Semester
A CORE COURSES
AES 621-3 Statistical Theory and Analysis
AES 622-3 Mathematics For Economics
AES 623-3 Advanced Microeconomics
AES 624-3 Operations Research
B OPTIONAL COURSES
AES 625 Agribusiness Management
AES 626 Advanced Production Economics
AES 627 Advanced Farm Management
Total Units 18
Year TWO
AES 666-12 Students’ Seminar/Thesis
M.Sc. AGRIC. ECONOMICS COURSE SYNOPSES
AES 611- 3 : ADVANCED MICRO-ECONOMICS:
The theory of consumer behaviour : analysis of constrained maximization: income
Consumption and price – consumption relationships, analysis of the demand curve,
Elasticity of demand: substitution and income effects, economic theory of index numbers; leisure and income; production function, cost function, price and output behaviour in the short and long-run under perfect market, monopoly, monopsony; aspects of the theory of factor supply, general equilibrium and welfare economics: Pareto optimality and the problem of efficiency and distribution.
AES 612 - 3 : Quantitative and Research Methods in Agriculture: Research methods in the Social Sciences as compared to research methods in natural sciences, Proposal Writing, Data sources : primary and secondary data; Questionnaire preparation, field surveys and sampling procedure; Data collection techniques; Rural rapid appraisals; Data analysis and interpretation. Model building and choice of models.
Interpretation of results and compilation of technical report; computer skills and introduction to common computer software packages used in economic analysis; Time and financial budgeting for research; Technical report writing.
AES 613 -3 : Applied Econometric:
The course covers applied econometric analysis of agricultural commodity markets emphasizing specification and estimation of demand and supply models for forecasting.
The main focus will be on : Application of multiple linear regression models: assumption, application, significance tests, F - tests, T - test; General linear regression model: problem of single equation models, detection and estimation techniques for multicollinearity, heteroscedasticity, autororrelation or serial correlation, errors in variables; special models in regression analysis: dummy variable, distributed lag models, Application of single equation models; Simultaneous equation models and estimation techniques : identification problem and estimation.
AES 614 - 3 : Farm Management:
Producer decisions and problems, empirical analysis of cases of multifactor, multiproduct and polyperiod decision problems: factor-output and factor – factor relationships; Optimal levels of resources use; Returns to scale; Enterprise combination and farm planning techniques, farm budgeting and techniques of budgeting; economics of holding, problems of farm fragmentation, management of land, capital and labour on the farm.
AES 621 - 3 : Statistical Theory and Analysis:
Nature of statistics, Theory of probability: discrete and continuous random variable. Data Collection for economic and statistical analysis: Application of statistical methods to economic research; Descriptive inferences, measures of central tendencies and dispersion, variance analysis; correlation and regression analysis; statistical induction; Test of hypothesis : Confidence intervals and significant tests; Time series; Index numbers; simple estimation and properties of estimators.
AES 622 -3 : Mathematics for Economists:
Mathematical models, real number system, sets relations and functions; matrix algebra; comparative statistics and concepts of derivatives differentiation and integration; optimization techniques, including constrained optimization; Exponential and logarithmic functions; mathematical programming including linear programming; Dynamic Analysis; indefinite, definite and improper integrals.
AES 623 – 3 : Advanced Macroeconomics for Agriculture:
This course is designed to provide a good understanding of macroeconomic theories and principles as well as their relevance and application to agriculture in developing countries with particular emphasis on Africa . The course covers conceptual macro-economics framework and the theories of unemployment, inflation, aggregate demand consumption, savings and investment. It also covers fiscal and monetary policies, international trade theory, growth theory and effects of macroeconomic policy changes on the agricultural sector.
AES 624 -3 : Operations Research:
Nature and Scope of operations research: Mathematical programming problems: solving a set of linear equations; General notation of the linear programming problems; The simplex method: maximization and minimization problems; applications of Linear Programming to agricultural economics: Introduction to non-linear programming techniques: Linear programming transportation model. Inventory model: Deterministic and probabilistic models queuing models and waiting line problems. Network analysis computer applications.
AES 666-12: Students’ Seminar/Thesis:
THE ELECTIVE COURSES ARE AS FOLLOWS:-
615 - 3 : Benefit – Cost Analysis:
Benefit – cost analysis is a method to determine the economic desirability of competing alternatives, from the view point of society as a whole.
In this course students develop an understanding of the necessary concepts and theory, and an ability to complete an effective analysis. The concepts and theory focus on welfare foundations, investment analysis and valuation of benefits and costs and alternative choices. The case studies and applications focus on current problems in agriculture, the environment, land use and resource management.
AES 616 - 3 : Natural Resources and Environmental Economics:
Natural resource utilization: Management of renewable and exhaustible resources, models for dynamic allocation of scarce renewable and exhaustible resource, natural resources development and conservation. Utilization and management of such natural resource like soil, water, forests, fish, minerals and energy.
Natural resource use and its environmental impact; optimal harvesting techniques in renewable resources, Benefit-cost analysis and externalities of a resource project; financial and non-financial valuation of environmental effects; Multi-criteria of impact assessment; relevant case studies.
AES 625 – 3 : Agribusiness Management:
Analysis of the role of agribusiness manager. Agribusiness product management, principles of production and management; production/marketing interface; Process control, quality control, material management and planning; Agricultural marketing management; Planning for marketing, marketing functions and marketing mix. Market information and intelligence. Human resource management including organization theory, management functions: communication; motivation work planning and control management information systems (MIS).
AES 626-3: Advanced Production Economics:
Theory and structure of production ; theory of the farm; Analysis of factor-product and factor-factor relationship, enterprise combination and product relationship; survey of common production functions; Analysis and estimation of production analysis; Output supply and input demand functions: cost functions and profit functions and their estimations techniques; Duality and Envelope theorems, modeling production risk and uncertainty. Data requirements for farm production analyses; Case studies of empirical applications of production economics to agricultural system.
AES 627-3 Advanced Farm Management:
The aim of this course is to produce students with the necessary skills to appraise the dynamics of any farm or resource-based production system. The focus is planning for such change. Both private and public resource management planning perspectives are considered. Students are provided with a wide range of analytical skills ranging from developing budgeting techniques through to whole farm system appraisal using stochastic simulation.
Topics covered include the system thinking perspective, long – run planning, information systems, the finance environment, the policy environment, public resource Management. The farm and resource management profession and extension methods.
Year One
First semester
(CORE COURSES)*
AES 601-4 Rural Sociology
AES 602-4 Agricultural Extension
AES 603-4 Survey Methods
AES 604-4 Adult and Non-Formal Education
AES 605-4 Agricultural Administration and Management
Second Semester
AES 606-4 Audio-Visual Methods
AES 607-4 Gender and Development
AES 608-4 Extension Programme Planning
AES 609-4 Extension Evaluation
*All Courses in this Programme Are Compulsory
Year Two
AES 610-12 Students’ Seminar and Thesis