Horticulture

About the Department

Department of horticulture started to offer the course since the establishment of Samara University in 2008. Initially the department was offering an undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor of Education degree (teaching) in horticulture. The Department has revised its curriculum as of 2013 and has been offering an undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor of horticulture. The revision aimed at inculcating the changes and improvements that are happening in the discipline.

The horticulture sector commands a large employment potential by way of supporting a series of direct and indirect activities related to area development, nurseries, cultivation and farming, crop maintenance, production, post-harvest management, storage, processing, transportation, marketing and distribution of horticultural commodities and products. Hence, the on-going growth in the horticulture sector is expected to further provide a huge employment opportunity. Achieving food self-sufficiency necessitates the use of modern agricultural technologies and technical support of qualified agricultural professionals that demonstrate their skills and know-how through their technical advice in using modern agricultural practices and improved crop varieties, which in turn help in improving productivity and quality of crops. In view of the huge trained human resource requirements of the country and the ambitious government policy, the demand for trained professionals at the undergraduate level in horticulture is very high.

Currently, the department of horticulture is running undergraduate programs in the regular modalities. Horticulture graduates work in both the teaching and non-teaching professions and contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of the country.

Mission

The department of horticulture  is dedicated to providing quality education on various fields of horticultural , which incorporate fruit, vegetable, flower, beverage and planation plant, landscape post-harvest, conduction problem solving research and community service and there by producing qualified competent and ethical graduates to foster the development aspiration of the nation.

Vision

To be one of the leading departments with enormous fields of horticulture  in pastoral and agro-pastoral community of East Africa by 2035.

Department Facilities

The Department of horticulture offers courses in comfortable classrooms that it shares with other departments of the College of dry land agriculture. Furthermore, the Department has a laboratory and field for practical courses such as in 85% of courses. It is planning to further expand the laboratory and demonstration site to integrate practice skill.

Department Administration

The Department Head is selected from among the teaching staff of the department on the basis of merit and interest as soon as the college announces the vacancy for the post. The term of office of the Department Head is two years. Currently, Mr. Osman Ahmed is serving as Head of the Department.

Contact Address

Email:  oa166264@gmail.com

Mobile: +251922881811

P.O. Box: 132, Semera, Afar, Ethiopia.

Bachelor Programs

Program Objectives

General objective

The general objective of the program is to produce high – level manpower equipped with adequate knowledge and skill to design and implement the activities indicated in the perspective graduate profile.

Specific objectives

The program will have the following specific objectives in the undergraduate program of Horticultural sciences:

• Provide students with basic and applied knowledge and skills of horticultural crops production & management, breeding, protection and soil fertility management principles & concepts
• Enable the students to understand and realize problems in horticultural crop production and seek solutions through exposure to research, extension and management.
• Provide the students with the knowledge of handling horticultural fruit plants and their products.
• Integrate teaching-research activities with extension activities so as to extend the new improved technologies to the farmers.

Graduate profile

Graduates of the department of Horticulture are well equipped with theoretical knowledge and practical skills in various aspects of horticulture i.e. horticultural agronomy, horticultural breeding and protection and soil fertility management which are needed to:

• Promote and disseminate agricultural technology through training of farmers
• Assist in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating programs/projects related to
• Horticultural production, protection and management in sustainable base
• Involve in research activities in the area of his/ her professional field of study.
• Integrate horticultural crop production and natural resources management issues with other farming enterprises
• Set and manage overall operation of horticultural nurseries and farms.
• Inspect the quality and safety of horticultural produce.
• Carry out scientific research on various aspects of horticultural crops.
• Promote environmental safety by encouraging good agricultural practices.
• Plan, design, execute and mange residential, public and commercial landscape.
• Propagate, produce and manage horticultural planting materials.
• Possesses capabilities to positively influence the community and serve as an agent of change in matters pertaining to his/her field.
• Understand basics of horticultural plant structures and functions
• Generate analysis and present different work reports in written as well as oral communication.
• Possesses the necessary background knowledge to pursue further advanced study in horticulture.
• The training program for regular classes lasts for four years and is divided into six semesters for a total of 147 ECTS.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to BSc. in Horticulture, candidates should fit to admission requirement to Ethiopian higher education institutions upon successful completion of a one year freshman program in natural science. Placement of students to the program abides to the MoSHE affirmative regulation. Others like re-admission and advanced standing shall be treated according to the academic rules and regulations of the universities. Students who graduated with diploma in the field of Horticulture, Plant sciences, General Agriculture and other related fields from recognized institutions can also apply to pursue their studies in regular, summer and extension programs based on the university legislations.

Graduation Requirements

Students will be eligible for graduation upon successful completion of a minimum load of 144 credit hours set for the regular program. At the end of the program, the student is required to have a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 2.00 with no “F” letter grade in any course.

Duration of the study

A four-year academic time is required to acquire a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Horticulture. Each academic year is further divided into two semesters of about 16 weeks.

Degree nomenclature

The nomenclature of the degree in the program is as in;

English: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Degree in Horticulture and in  

Amharic: “ባችለርዲግሪበሆርቲካልቸር”

Course Breakup Semester wise