MASTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (AGROFORESTRY AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
ESU 800: APLIED STATISTICS
Descriptive data analysis and interpretation; inferential data analysis; types of samples;
parametric and non-parametric statistics; types of regression; factor and cluster analysis;
partial and semi-partial cancellation; analysis of variance; Application of computer models in
environmental data analysis.
ESU 801: RESEARCH METHODS
Problem diagnostic techniques, long-term experimental design, ecological research approach,
research methodologies and modeling approach in agroforestry. Formulation of concepts,
theory and objectives; identification of data sources and collection techniques, field research
procedures; observation, experimental, interview, questionnaires; data analysis and
interpretation; reporting.
ESU 802: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND AUDIT
Concept of environmental assessment; evolution of environmental assessment; environment,
development and sustainability; the environmental impact assessment process; environmental
assessment methods; project cycle; public consultation in environmental assessment; strategic
environmental assessment; economic analysis of environmental impacts; environmental
auditing; environmentally sound technology assessment; special topics in environmental
impact assessment.
EFA 800: AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
Concepts and principles of Agroforestry (AF); ecological and socioeconomic basis of AF; the
improved AF technologies; and potentials of AF in land management.Analysis of
agroforestry systems, with special reference to current agroforestry systems of sub-Saharan
region.Socioeconomic and bio-physical components of selected agroforestry systems;
interactions and management alternatives.
EFA801: MULTIPURPOSE TREES, SHRUBS AND NURSERY TECHNOLOGY
Selection of multipurpose trees. Tree requirements for different land use systems and use of
ecological information in choosing multipurpose trees (MPTs). Environmental resource
utilization of MPTs, estimation of propagation and site modification by MPTs. Basic
elements of MPT’s form and function, their inter-relationships and assessment. Seedlings
preparation and techniques of propagation of MPTs
ELECTIVES
SMW 800: PRINCIPLES AND MANAGEMENT OF WATERSHED RESOURCES
EFA 802:
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN NATURAL RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT
Concepts and techniques in community development; role of different gender in sustainable
development social and cultural dimensions of development; rural development resources
accessibility by different gender; child lab our; participatory rural appraisal; participatory
experimental design, planning and extension, problem identification; community resource
management and conflicts resolutions; management of common property resources;
extension services; communication systems and processes in developing societies.
EFA 803: FOREST RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
Forest related concepts; forest ecosystems and forest ecology; the forest communities:
growth, physiology, tropical and East Africa forests; energy flow and nutrient cycles;
products of the forest and forest influences; the role of forestry in national development; legal
basis of forest management; the forest policy and act; community and forest management;
carbon sequestration; deforestation: species extinction, watershed destruction and siltation of
water bodies, carbon trade; integrating climate change into forestry; the concept of multiple
use forestry.
EFA 804: DRYLAND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Systems of classifying bioclimatic aridity; soil characteristics of the arid and semi-arid lands
(ASAL); natural vegetation in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL); land use patterns in
ASAL; case study of Agroforestry systems in ASAL; research needs of agroforestry in
ASAL.
EFA 805: ECONOMICS OF LAND AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Characteristics and alternative uses of land and water resources; concepts of resource
valuation; market and non-market pricing; optimization and public/private resource
management.Institutional aspects of land and water resources; ownership, tenureship and
implications for efficient and equitable use.Impacts of population growth, technology and
development on the quantity, quality and supply of land and water resources.
EFA 806: SOIL MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY IN AGROFORESTRY
The role of trees in soil productivity and conservation, Effects of trees on soil organic matter,
nutrients content, soil pH, structure and soil texture. Implementation of soil improving
techniques, Use of soil and plant analysis for recommendation in fertilizer programs and land
use planning: Bio-fertilizers.
EFA 807: AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS AND CLIMATIC RESPONSES
Introduction to different agricultural systems; Principles of agricultural ecology and their
application and development.Concepts of systems and ecosystems, interactions with the
social systems; structure, function and evolution of agro-ecosystems and their impact on the
environment; the environments; climatic and edaphic resources of agricultural systems.
Environmental factors influencing crop production in various agricultural systems –
responses and adaptation of crops to environmental factors and interactions. Crop responses
to stress conditions. Roles of genotypes and management strategies in overcoming stress
problems.
EFA 808: MANAGEMENT OF CROPPING SYSTEMS
Constraints on crop production of small and large scale farms under high and low input
systems; environmental and management factors e.g., genotype, soil fertility, weeds and
pests.Technical strategies for alleviating the environmental constraints.On-farm research
methods.
EFA 809: RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GENDER ISSUES
Concepts of economic development, role of different gender in sustainable development
social and cultural dimensions of development; rural development resources accessibility by
different gender; child labour; economic and non-economic indicators of development,
physical and human resources as determinants of agricultural systems, alternative models for
development of agricultural systems: criteria for agricultural institutions, government
policies, and international patterns of trade.
EFA 810 ECOLOGY OF AGRONOMIC CROP
Ecological processes affecting the dynamics of crop yield. Crop productivity of agroecosystems, the relationships between ecological factors and plant adaptation, energy transfer
and the effects of environmental changes on agro-ecosystems and crop management at farm
level.
EFA812: MODELING AND SIMULATION OF AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
Methods and techniques in model-building of complex agroforestry system; modelling steps
and ingredients; simulation of the systems with emphasis on agricultural, ecological and
social-economic aspects; application of simulation models in solving and supporting the
decision making in managing the agroforestry systems.
SECOND YEAR
EFA 813: A THESIS (10 UNITS)
Level 900
EFA 900: PhD by Thesis in the area of specialization