Diploma in Horticulture
Introduction
The horticultural in Kenya is a major contributor to agricultural production and has evolved to be among the top four sectors that earn significant foreign exchange. The sector is rapidly growing and possesses great potential that needs to be fully exploited for increased output and quality of horticultural produce. The realization of this potential requires highly trained technical manpower with practical knowledge and skills in horticulture.
Justification
The three-year course leading to the Diploma in Horticulture is designed to produce graduates having broad practical knowledge and skills for the rapidly growing horticultural industry in Kenya. The practical-oriented training equips students for technical positions in research, extension, and commercial farms, associated service industries and self-employment. Egerton University is suitable for horticultural training, because it is centrally located between Eldoret and Nairobi airports, and in the Rift Valley province that is suitable for production of horticultural crops.
Aims and Objectives
At the end of the Diploma programme, students should be able to:
3.1 Perceive the importance of horticulture in the national economy with particular reference to the roles of vegetables, fruits, flowers and other ornamental plants in meeting the nutritional needs of the family, aesthetic gratification and foreign exchange earnings;
3.2 Use the acquired knowledge and practical skills to improve the production and post-harvest technology of horticultural crops and marketing of the produce;
3.3 Effectively communicate the acquired knowledge and skills to various individuals and groups interested in improving horticultural crop production;
3.4 Set up and manage a commercial horticultural enterprise involving the production and marketing of fruits, vegetables, cut-flowers and nursery stock plants in both outdoor and greenhouse environments;
3.5 Carryout meaningful scientific research on various facets of horticultural and other crop enterprises;
3.6 Promote environmental and food safety awareness by safe use of pesticides and employing production practices that minimize chemical residues, as well as soil erosion;
3.7 Utilize the acquired knowledge and skills in gainful self-employment.
4.0 Admission Requirements
4.1 Applicants must satisfy the University minimum entry requirements for a University Diploma of Grade C in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), or equivalent examinations and, in addition, offer passes with at least a:
(i) C in English/Kiswahili
(ii) C in Maths/Physics or in Agriculture
(iii) C+ in Biology or B- in Biological Sciences
(iv) C+ in Chemistry or B- in Physical Sciences
4.2 Admission may be granted to outstanding holders of a Certificate in agriculture, or fields related to agriculture from recognized Colleges, who will have passed with at least a credit or its equivalent.
5.0 Loading and Duration of Study
5.1 The Diploma in horticulture shall normally take three academic years, each with two semesters.
5.2 To graduate with the Diploma in horticulture, a student will be required to take and pass all courses scheduled in (8), which include the University common core courses approved by the Senate.
6.0 Course Coding
The courses are coded as follows:
6.1 The abbreviation HORT refers to Horticulture,
6.2 The first digit (i.e. zero) in all the courses indicates the level of training (i.e. Diploma),
6.3 The second digit (i.e. 1, 2, 3) represents the year of study,
6.4 The third digit (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) refers to the subject discipline/matter as follows:
0 = Introductory Courses
1 = General and Principle Courses
2 = Basic Horticultural Courses
3 = Vegetable Crops
4 = Fruit Crops
5 = Post-harvest Management
6 = Ornamental Horticulture
7 = Experimentation and Research Projects.
6.5 The fourth digit shows the series of courses in a particular field.
7.0 Examination
All examinations for this programme will be conducted in accordance with the examination regulations as stipulated in Statute of Egerton University.
8.0 Schedule of Courses
YEAR 1 SEMESTER 1
CODE |
TITLE |
L. |
P |
C.F. |
BOTA 0211 |
Agricultural Botany |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
BOTA 0212 |
Plant Taxonomy |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
CHEM0111 |
Basic Inorganic and Physical Chemistry |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
HORT 0111 |
Principles and Practices of Horticulture |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
MATH0121 |
General Mathematics |
45 |
0 |
3.0 |
ZOOL 0100 |
Entomology |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
SOIL 0100 |
Introduction to Soil Science |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
HORT0170 |
Horticultural Practical Experience I |
0 |
45 |
1.5 |
TOTAL |
|
225 |
225 |
22.5 |
YEAR 1 SEMESTER 2
AGED 0111 |
Agricultural Communication Skills |
30 |
0 |
2.0 |
CHEM0112 |
Basic Organic Chemistry |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
MATH0122 |
Basic Statistics |
45 |
0 |
3.0 |
ENSC 100 |
Environmental Science |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
BOTA0222 |
Genetics |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
HORT0170 |
Horticultural Practical Experience II |
0 |
60 |
2.0 |
AGEC0112 |
Introduction to Agricultural Economics |
45 |
0 |
3.0 |
TOTAL |
|
210 |
150 |
19.0 |
YEAR 2 SEMESTER 1
AGEN 0231 |
Introduction to Mechanized Agriculture |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
AGRO 0221 |
Principles of Crop Improvement |
30 |
15 |
2.5 |
HORT 0212 |
Horticultural Plant Identification |
0 |
45 |
1.5 |
HORT0222 |
Plant Propagation |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
AGRO0232 |
Annual crops |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
AGEC0241 |
Production Economics |
45 |
0 |
3.0 |
HORT0232 |
Vegetable Production |
45 |
30 |
4.0 |
AGED0251 |
Rural Sociology |
30 |
0 |
2.0 |
TOTAL |
|
240 |
180 |
22.0 |
YEAR 2 SEMESTER 2
BOTA 0226 |
Plant Pathology |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
SOIL 0220 |
Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
HORT0242 |
Fruit Production |
45 |
30 |
4.0 |
HORT0261 |
Floriculture |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
HORT0271 |
Principles of Agricultural Experimentation |
15 |
45 |
2.5 |
AGEC0243 |
Farm Management and Accounts |
45 |
0 |
3.0 |
AGED 0252 |
Extension Education |
45 |
0 |
3.0 |
TOTAL |
|
240 |
165 |
21.5 |
HORT 0373 |
Field Attachment (8 wks) |
0 |
120 |
4.0 |
YEAR 3 SEMESTER 1
HORT 0313 |
Horticultural Crop Protection |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
COMP 0190 |
Information Technology and National Development |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
HORT 0321 |
Horticultural Seed Production |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
HORT 0324 |
Nursery Stock Production and Management |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
HORT 0351 |
Post-harvest Technology and Marketing of Horticulture Produce |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
HORT 0362 |
Ornamental Horticulture |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
HORT0372 |
Field Visits |
0 |
45 |
1.5 |
HORT0374 |
Research Projects I |
0 |
45 |
1.5 |
TOTAL |
|
195 |
255 |
21.5 |
YEAR 3 SEMESTER 2
AGEN 0252 |
Soil and Water Management |
45 |
45 |
4.5 |
AGEC 0348 |
Financial and Human Resources Management |
45 |
0 |
3.0 |
HORT 0323 |
Introduction to Greenhouse Management |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
HORT 0343 |
Beverages, Medicinal and Nut Crops |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
HORT 0363 |
Landscape Design, Construction and Maintenance |
30 |
30 |
3.0 |
HORT0372 |
Field Visits |
0 |
45 |
1.5 |
HORT0375 |
Research Projects II |
0 |
45 |
1.5 |
TOTAL |
|
180 |
225 |
19.5 |