CPR3123: Integrated Farming System

Aim of the course:

The main objective of this course is to become familiar with systems thinking, with analysis of farming systems, with the concepts of integrated crop and animal production systems within different socio-economic environments, organic farming, and how these concepts and approaches can be used to design improved farming systems. The underlying ecological processes and environmental interactions that influence functioning of these systems are also discussed.

Course content

Agro-ecological zoning -Typologies of farming systems - Analysis of farming systems -Participatory approach in testing innovative technologies in farming systems - design of improved farming systems – Biological nitrogen fixation - Concepts of organic farming – Characteristics of organic farming – Composting technique – Use of Crop Residues in farming systems – Socio-economic factors in farming system – Farming System Research Approach.

Leaning outcomes:

Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:

1. Define farming system, and describe the major farming systems found in Rwanda and elsewhere in the world;
2. Understand the principles of production ecology and use approaches of systems analysis to analyse farming systems at different scales;
3. Describe the major uses of different low external inputs technologies (Animal manure, compost, rotation, improved fallowing, biomass transfer and Alley Cropping) in relation to direct benefits and ecosystem services in their broadest sense;
4. Understand the role of socio-economic factors in farming enterprises and assess their effects;
5. Assess the agronomic sustainability of different agricultural systems for farmers’ livelihoods.

Cognitive/Intellectual skills/Application of Knowledge

Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:

6. Analyze problems with help of appropriate tools and define and evaluate relations between all aspects
7. (Farm) Analysis at different scales and basic modelling of results
8. Evaluate appropriateness of different agricultural systems
9. Design suitable/improved agricultural systems