AELresearch

Our mission statement in the Department of Crop Science and Production is:
To provide high quality tertiary training and conduct relevant research in the field of Crop Science and Production.

The objectives of the Department of Crop Science and Production at BCA are:

To develop and implement relevant curricula (for both short term and long term courses) in the field of crop science and production.
To develop relevant agricultural research programmes aimed at tackling national as well as regional problems that constrain crop production.
To provide expert advice and consultancies in the field of crop science and production.

AEL Research

Research

AEL has been active in a number of research projects over the years. Recent publications of each academic staff member may be viewed by visiting the staff member's webpage listed in the directory above. Current research projects in the departement are listed below.

On-Going Research Projects:

Long-term environmental effects of soil management practices in the Pandamatenga farms (Tapela M, Kayombo B., Meulenberg F.)

Aerodynamic properties of Botswana grain crops (M. Tapela, R. Tsheko, E. M. Chimbombi)

Monitoring the effects of environmental parameters on poultry housing designs used in Botswana (R. Tsheko, H.J. Chepete, E. M. Chimbombi, D. J. M. Kamau and H. Masebu)

Precision Agriculture as a strategy to improve dryland farming in Botswana (R. Tsheko, B. Kayombo, S. Machacha, F. Meulenburg and J. N. Batisani)

Desert Margins Programme (DMP) Phase 1 : Biological Diversity with relevance to Climate Change and the Cross-Cutting Issue of Land Degradation (GEF funded Project).Kayombo B, project leader.

Applications of Remote Sensing for Integrated management of Ecosystems and Water Resources in Africa (UNESCO funded project) Tsheko R., project leader

History

The Department of Crop Science and Production was established in 1991 when the college became an Associate Institution of the University of Botswana. It consists of five main disciplines: Agronomy, Crop Protection, Horticulture, and Forestry and Range Ecology, Soil Science. Since its establishment, the Department has made tremendous progress in the development of academic programmes. The BSc (Agriculture) and the Higher Diploma (Agriculture) programmes were among the first to be offered followed by the Higher Diploma in Horticulture and the Higher Diploma in Forestry and Range Ecology. The Department has recently introduced a BSc (Crop Science) degree programme with streams in Agronomy and Horticulture. It is currently in the process of developing a Masters programme in Crop Science with streams in Agronomy, Horticulture, Crop Protection and Soil Science.

The Department provides advisory services to the farming community. Staff also conduct short courses for farmers, agricultural extension and research staff under the Botswana College of Agriculture’s Centre for In-Service and Continuing Education programmes. The Department has a staff complement of three Associate Professors, three Senior Lecturers, 13 Lecturers, two Tutors, one Assistant Tutor and 13 Technical staff. These staff are well trained and able to achieve the Department’s goals in teaching, research and quality service to the farming community.

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AEL Research

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