Section outline

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    General Information

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    Welcome Message

    Dear Students,

    A very warm welcome to the Agricultural Extension and Policies module at the University of Rwanda, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Sciences, Department of Crop Sciences.

    Aim of the Module

    This module bridges agricultural science, policy, and practice to equip future leaders with the knowledge and tools for shaping Rwanda’s agricultural transformation. Through theory, case studies, and field learning, it covers extension approaches, national policies, climate-smart strategies, and digital tools for effective delivery. Your active engagement is key to making the course impactful, preparing you for meaningful contributions in government, NGOs, agribusiness, or academia. Ultimately, it aims to strengthen Rwanda’s journey toward food security, sustainability, and resilience.

    Learning Outcomes

    Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

    1. Critique national and regional agricultural policies (e.g., PSTA IV) to assess their impact on smallholder farmers and food security, essential for shaping evidence-based policy reforms in Rwanda.
    2. Design participatory extension approaches (e.g., Farmer Field Schools, digital tools) to effectively communicate climate-resilient practices critical for improving farmer adoption and adaptive capacity.
    3. Propose strategies to strengthen agricultural extension as a bridge between research, policy, and practice necessary for enhancing technology uptake and sustainable intensification.
    4. Develop a policy brief or extension proposal that integrates stakeholder analysis and ethical considerations, vital for addressing real-world agricultural challenges with actionable, context-specific solutions.

    Module facilitator Team & Contacts:

    1.   Dr. Ir. Habimana Sylvestre, Senior Lecturer & Coordinator of Industrial & Academia Linkage
       Email: s.habimana14@ur.ac.rw / Phone: +250 788 486 031
    2. Aristide Nshuti Niyokuri, Ass. Lecturer
      Email: a.niyokuri@ur.ac.rw / Phone: +250 788 455 056
    3. Dr. Turamyenyirijuru Adrien,  Lecturer
      Email: a.turamyenyirijuru@ur.ac.rw / Phone: +250 788 213 807
    4.  Dr. Jean D'Amour Manirere, Lecturer
      Email: jd.manirere@ur.ac.rw / Phone: +250 788 306 916

    Orientation of General Resources

    You will utilize:

    • Government policy documents (e.g., PSTA IV, NST2, Vision 2050) and global frameworks (e.g., FAO, CAADP) for policy analysis and critique.
    • Participatory extension tools (e.g., Farmer Field School manuals, digital advisory platforms, mobile-based extension apps) for practical application in field settings.
    • Case study materials and stakeholder analysis frameworks to assess real-world agricultural challenges and develop evidence-based proposals.
    • Recommended textbooks on agricultural extension, rural development, policy analysis, and communication for extension delivery.
    • University library and approved online resources (e.g., AGORA, FAO, IFAD, World Bank publications) for research and policy review.
    • Independent study and active engagement with extension practitioners are essential for mastering the module content.

    Guidelines on Module Activities

    • Regular attendance and active participation in lectures, case study discussions, and field-based learning sessions are required.
    • All policy briefs, extension proposals, and analytical reports must follow standard academic conventions and be professionally presented.
    • Some activities will involve group work, stakeholder mapping exercises, and field visits to extension programs or policy implementation sites.
    • Assessment includes continuous assessment components (e.g., case study analysis, policy brief) and a final written examination.
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    Unit 1: Technology Transfer Skills and Strategies

    Introduction

    Welcome to the Technology Transfer Skills and Strategies course at the University of Rwanda, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Sciences. This course equips you with the practical skills, strategic frameworks, and communication tools needed to bridge the gap between agricultural research and on-farm application. Whether you pursue careers in extension, agribusiness, policy, or research, you will be prepared to become a catalyst for sustainable agricultural transformation in Rwanda and beyond. We look forward to learning together as we explore how to make agricultural innovations accessible, adoptable, and impactful.

    Learning Outcomes:

    Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

    1. Analyze and Design: Critically assess technology transfer models and design context-sensitive strategies using participatory and digital approaches essential for aligning innovations with the diverse realities of Rwandan farmers.
    2. Evaluate and Develop: Assess socio-economic and institutional adoption factors to develop evidence-based, ethically sound transfer proposals with integrated M&E frameworks necessary for impactful and accountable extension programming.
    3. Apply and Facilitate: Demonstrate facilitation, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills in real or simulated settings, key to building trust and ensuring inclusive, collaborative technology adoption processes.

    Course Facilitator & Contacts:

    Dr. Ir. Habimana Sylvestre, Senior Lecturer & Coordinator of Industrial & Academia Linkage

    Email: s.habimana14@ur.ac.rw / Phone: +250 788 486 031

    • REFERENCES Page
    • Chat Room for Interaction between Students and Lecturer Forum
      Due: Thursday, 24 December 2020, 2:12 PM
      Students must
      Mark as done

      Dear Students, this forum is specifically created for the unit of Technology Transfer skills and strategies.

      Before you post your thought, the lecturer is requesting you to introduce yourself.  So, you are advised to interact with the Lecturer and colleague learners using this space. Your participation in this is very important and will be counted for your performance at the end of this course.

    • 20 ASSIGNMENTS: Technology Transfer, Skills and Strategies  
      Opened: Saturday, 11 April 2026, 3:30 PM
      Due: Tuesday, 14 April 2026, 12:00 PM

      Dear Students, 

      You have 20 assignments, 10 for each option (horticulture and crop production). You have to share the topics in your already-created groups. Each group must submit 2 files (1 final PPT and 1 Word document report).

    • QUIZ -Moodle Familiarization
      Opened: Wednesday, 1 April 2026, 7:00 PM
      Closed: Thursday, 2 April 2026, 2:00 PM

      Dear Student,

      This sample quiz for the TTSS course, designed to help you become familiar with the Moodle platform. Completing this sample quiz is mandatory before you can access the second test.

      Best regards,

    • Lecture notes File PDF
      1.0 MB
    • CAT Quiz
      Opened: Tuesday, 14 April 2026, 5:30 PM
      Closed: Tuesday, 14 April 2026, 6:30 PM

      Dear Students,

      Please attempt all questions. All questions carry equal marks. 

      Good luck

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    UNIT 2: Agricultural and natural resources management policies and laws

    Welcome note

    Dear students,

    Welcome again. I am Dr. Turamyenyirijuru Adrien and I would like to introduce you to the module component entitled "Agricultural and Natural Resources Management Policies and Laws".

    Introduction

    This module component is designed to provide students with key concepts of Agricultural and Natural Resources Management Policies and Law and to provide necessary skills that can be applied to analyze critically any agricultural policy and/or law. This module component is delivered to students of year four Crop Sciences Department (BSC Hons) with the goals:

    -To equip learners with key concepts of Agricultural and Natural Resources Management Policies and Laws

    -To enable learners to explain the role of agriculture in economic development, identify challenges of agricultural sector development and elucidate how agricultural policy can contribute to address them

    - To enable learners to critically analyze agricultural policies and laws and understand how these support agricultural development.

    -To equip learners with knowledge and skills to contribute effectively to the development of agricultural and Natural Resources Management policies and laws.

    Learning outcomes

    Upon completion of this module component, students should be able:

    -To explain key concepts of Agricultural and Natural Resources Management Policies and Laws

    -To explain the role of agriculture in economic development, identify challenges of agricultural sector development and elucidate how agricultural policy can contribute to address them

    - To analyze critically agricultural policies and laws and explain how these affect agricultural sector and natural Resources development

    - To contribute effectively to the development of agricultural and Natural Resources Management policies and laws

    Resources

    -Ellis, F. (1991). Agricultural Policies in Developing countries. Cambridge University Press

    -Monke, E. A. and Scott R. P. (1989). The Policy Analysis Matrix for Agricultural Development. Cornell University Press.

    -Norton, R. D. (2002). Agricultural Development Policy: Concepts and Experiences. FAO Agricultural Policy Support Service – Policy Assistance Division. TCAS Working Document No. 43.

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    UNIT 3: HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

    Introduction

    This learning module elaborates the nature and principles guiding the progressive management of human resources. It seeks to analyze the generic people management functions such as human resource planning, staffing (recruitment, selection, orientation), performance and productivity, staff development, motivation, management of reward and staff maintenance (industrial relations, career and quality of work life).

    Learning outcomes

    Upon completion of this module component, students should be able:

    1. Design HRM plans for organizations
    2. Design and implement efficient and effective recruitment, selection and orientation process
    3. Design/develop the following tools: performance appraisal, interview and assessment, inventories for required staff
    4. Develop staff development and training scheme

    Resources

    1. Armstrong, M. (2001) Changing the culture: Rewarding and developing staff in higher education. Improving performance management in higher education Conference, 22 October, Capita, London.
    2. Armstrong, M. (2003) A handbook of human resource management (9th edition). London: Kogan Page.
    3. Armstrong, M. (2009) Armstrong’s handbook of human resource management (11th edition). London: Kogan Page.
    4. Barrow, S. and Davenport, J. (2002) The employer brand. People in Business, London, [unpublished paper].
    5. Barrow, S. and Mosley, R. (2005) The employer brand ®: Bringing the best of brand management to people at work (2nd edition). Chichester: John Wiley.
    6. Belbin, R. M. Belbin ® Team Roles [website]. www.belbin.com [Accessed 21/11/2011].
    7. Boutall, T. (1997) The good manager’s guide: Over 130 practical checklists for day-to-day management (2nd edition), London: Butterworth Heinemann.
    8. Burns, R. (2001) Making delegation happen: A simple and effective guide to implementing successful delegation. Australia: Allen and Unwin.
    9. Cameron, K. S. and Quinn, R. E. (2011) Diagnosing and changing organizational culture: Based on the Competing Values Framework. (3rd edition). US: Jossey-Bass, pp. 20–25.
    10. Clark, B. R. (1983) The higher education system: Academic organization in cross-national perspective. California: University of California Press, pp. 110–125.
    11. Coakes, J. (2006) The four Cs of teamwork [online].Available at http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Four-Cs-of-Teamworkandid=140536 [Accessed 2 February 2012].
    12. Cole, G. A. and Kelly, P. (2011) Management theory and practice (7th edition). Andover, Hants: Cengage Learning.
    13. Cook, Marshall J. (1999) Effective coaching. US: McGraw-Hill.
    14. Cushway, B. (2003) The handbook of model job descriptions. London: Kogan Page, p. 2.
    15. Egan, Gerard (1995) A Clear Path to Peak Performance. People Management, 18, May, pp. 34–37.
    • Lecture notes File PDF
      Students must
      Mark as done

      Dear Student,

      This is the reading material, kindly download the notes and read through. Use the resources provided in reference section for further reading.

      517.3 KB
    • Chat room
      Students must
      Mark as done

      Dear Students,

      This forum is specifically created for the unit of Human Resources Management

      Before you post your thought, the lecturer is requesting you to introduce yourself.  So, you are advised to interact with the Lecturer and colleague learners using this space. Your participation in this is very important and will be counted for your performance at the end of this course.

    • QUIZ1
      Opened: Friday, 30 October 2020, 9:00 PM
      Closed: Tuesday, 10 November 2020, 9:00 PM
      Students must
      Mark as done

      Dear Student,

      Kindly read carefully the questions, answer the same on max one page, and upload your answers. 

    • self intro Forum
      Students must
      Mark as done
    • link URL
      Students must
      Mark as done
    • Lecture Notes File PDF

      Dear Students,

      See the lectures notes in attached file

      15.2 MB
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    UNIT 4: Agro-food value chain: Analysis, coordination and development

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    Topic 6

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    Topic 7

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    Topic 8

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    Topic 9

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    Topic 10

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