BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF CROP SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

HISTORY:

The Cardoso college of Agriculture was established as an academic unit of the faculty of Science when the University was founded in October,1960.It assumed a full faculty status in 1961 with Department of Plant/Soil Sciences as one of the six departments in the faculty.

In 1974,Department of Crop Science was carved out of the Department of Plant/Soil Sciences.Since then the Department of Crop Science has been offering a five-year B.Agric degree with three sub-disciplines(options):Crop Production,Crop Protection and Horticulture.

PHILOSOPHY:

The mission of the Department of Crop Science is to improve the understanding,design and management of integrated,enhanced and environmentally sustainable Crop Production techniques through innovation,research,learning and technology exchange of community,national and international levels.

OBJECTIVES:

1.To equip the students with sufficient training and production technology that will enable them engage meaningfully in full-time crop production enterprise.

2.To prepare the students with adequate knowledge and skill to work in Research and Development Institutions at both national and international levels.

SCOPE:

The B.Agric(Crop Science) programme is designed to provide a broad practical and theoretical training in the basic agricultural sciences for the first three years.During the fourth year (farm year),practical training is provided in approved farms and agro-based establishments.During the fifth(final)year,the students are given intensive courses that will enable them graduate in any underlisted areas of specialization:

1.Crop Production

2.Crop Protection

3.Horticulture

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

UME ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

Candidates for admission to the Department must first satisfy the University entry requirements,In addition,the UME entry requirements include ‘O’ Level credits in Chemistry,Mathematics,Biology or Agricultural Science.

DIRECT ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

Candidates must have passed at the principal level in Higher School Certificate Examination or equivalent passes at the GCE Advanced Level in Chemistry and Biology (or Botany,Zoology or Agricultural Science).Candidates with Diploma in relevant subjects may be offered admission by direct entry to the second year programme.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:

Crop Science is an applied biological and physical sciences in the production of food and fibre-the foundation of civilization,Training in the department provides job opportunities in various government and private agencies engaged in Crop Production as well as being self-employed .Graduates work as agricultural and biological scientists and also as research staff of agriculture-based institutions at both national and international levels,technical experts in agricultural farms,Agricultural Development Projects(ADP),River Basin Authorities, Plantations,Agro-chemicals,Industries and food control laboratories etc.

Job opportunities also exist in customs and quarantine services,agricultural department of financial institutions,Such as commercial banks and agricultural credit banks.