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Development of a MSc programme in Agroforestry and Soil Management in Rwanda

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Project descriptionProject objective is to build capacity for research, education and training in the field of agroforestry and soil management at the National University of Rwanda. Main output is the development of an MSc programma in Agroforestry and Soil Management, and all related activities to set up and maintain the MSc programme in future. These are the development of the curriculum, course preparations, specialized courses to train technical personnel, staff trainings, 4 sandwich PhD-students and 4 MSc students studying at Wageningen University, rehabilitate and equip of laboratories, instructional equipment and infrastructure in place and equip the library with relevant information.

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Project information

Project period: January 2005 – December 2008 PhD-students will finish in 2009 and 2010

Project team: • Prof. dr. ir. G.M.J. (Frits) Mohren (project director)• Dr. D.T. (Daniel) Ntirushwa Rukazambuga, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, NationalUniversity of Rwanda (NUR)• Ir. I. (Innocent) Nzeyimana, Faculty of Agricultur, National University of Rwanda (NUR)and PhD student at Erosion, Soil and Water Conservation group of Wageningen University(Rwandan project coordinator)• Ir. C.M. (Neeltje) van Hulten (Dutch project coordinator)

Other participants: 4 Rwandan MSc-students at WUR: • Ms. Godeberthe Nkeshimana (MSc International Land and Water Management)• Ms. Alphonsine Kenyangi (MSc Plant Sciences)• Ms. Beatrice Uwumukiza (MSc Plant Sciences)• Mr. James Sano (MSc Environmental Sciences)

4 Rwandan PhD-students at WUR and NUR• Mr. Ir. Innocent Nzeyimana (ESW)• Mr. Charles Bucagu MSc (PPS)• Mr. Canisius Mugunga MSc (FEM)• Mr. Alfred Runerwa Bizoza MSc (RDS)Scientific and laboratory staff of the Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Rwanda

Staff of Wageningen University• Prof. K.E. (Ken) Giller, Chiargroup Plant Production Systems• Prof T. (Thom) Kuyper, Chairgroup Soil Quality• Prof. L (Leo) Stroosnijder, Chairgroup Erosion, Soil and Water Conservation• Dr. Ir. J (Jan) de Graaf, Chairgroup Erosion, Soil and Water Conservation• Dr. A. (Alfred) Hartemink, World Soil Information Centre (ISRIC)• Dr. P. (Paul) Hebinck, Chairgroup Rural Development and Sociology • Bram Eijgenraam• Hugo Besemer

Conducted jointly with: • Prof. August Temu and Dr. KPC Rao, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Nairobi,Kenya, • Dr. Victoria Ngumi African Network for Agroforestry Education (ANAFE). Nairobi, Kenya, • Dr. Andre Bationo and Dr. Didier Lesueur Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility institute ofCIAT(TSBF-CIAT), Nairobo, Kenya.• Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Rwanda (ISAR), Butare, Rwanda• Institute of Agriculture and Animal Production (ISAE), Rwanda• Rwandan governement, Ministry of Education

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Funded by: The Netherlands Programme for Institutional Strengthening of Post-secondary Education and Training Capacity (NPT), of Nuffic.

Project code: NPT/RWA/061 Type: The project is sponsored by the Netherlands Programme for Institutional Strengthening of

Post-secondary Education and Training Capacity (NPT), of Nuffic. In these projects a bilateral contract is signed between an institute/ organization in a Southern country (i.e. Rwanda) and an institute in the Netherlands.

Keywords: Agroforestry, soil management, MSc-programme, PhD-projects, Rwanda

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MSc theses

Within the PhD project of Canisius Mugunga MSc

Using part of farmland for growing Eucalyptus trees: Effects on crop yield and farm productivity (vacant)Nutrient budget of a Eucalyptus based agroforestry system and the effect of land use on soil fertility (vacant)Allometric equations for estimating biomass of E. saligna trees in different spatial arrangements on farm (vacant)Characterisation of on-farm wood production and utilisation in smallholder farms in Southern Rwanda (vacant)

Within the PhD project of Jean Ndayambaje MSc

Characterization of on farm fuelwood species in Rwanda (vacant)Allometric regression equations of dominant agroforestry species Adoption studies of agroforestry practices in Rwanda (vacant)Potential for raising biomass for fuelwood: opportunities, constraints and challenges (vacant)

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Pictures

Click on the pictures to open full size

Rwandan hills with agriculture Crops and trees on steep slopes Students doing fieldwork

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NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF RWANDA FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGROFORESTRY AND SOIL MANAGEMENT

Approved by the Academic Senate of the NUR on 31st March, 2005 Approved by the NUR board on the 5th April 2005

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF RWANDA (NUR)

WUR

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1. Preamble The National University of Rwanda through the Faculty of Agriculture is starting a Master of Science degree programme in Agroforestry and Soil Management beginning October 2005. This has become imperative as a result of environmental degradation due to the over-increasing pressure on lands, which affects the sustainability of rural livelihoods in the country; which calls for immediate ingenious interventions in land use that will enhance soil productivity and guarantee environmental stability. Agroforestry technologies have been identified to have major potential for soil management. The potential is derived from the specific capacity in environmental conservation by arresting land degradation including soil erosion, declining soil fertility, desertification, and reduce pressure for forest clearance. The introduction of trees into cropping system leads to an increase in productivity of associated crops; resulting into economical benefits, food security, fodder, fuel wood and other needs of households. There is, therefore, a great need of well-trained manpower for carrying out research, development and teaching to effectively handle the increasing need for agroforestry and soil management issues in the country. The Master of Science degree program in agroforestry and soil management at NUR, in the Faculty of Agriculture will strengthen the capacity of the already trained staff at the First Degree (Bachelor’s) level in the Soil and Environmental Management, in Crop Science and related fields. These graduates are the likely candidates for the Master’s Program together with the staff from the region such as DRC, Burundi, East Africa and COMESA countries.

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This is a two-years Master degree programme. It combines course work, field research work and thesis dissertation. The course work will consist of introductive courses, core courses, comprehensive/ synthesis courses, courses related to field work and thesis research preparation. The thesis subject will be taken based on the special areas of research interest of the candidates, their academic background and according to the specific needs for scientific research in the field of agroforestry and soil management in Rwanda. Candidates will be required to undertake field research lasting for four months and at the end of which a dissertation will be written and presented for assessment. The programme is jointly sponsored by NUFFIC-NPT (up to 1 550 000 Euros), Government of Rwanda and regional partners (ICRAF, TSBF, ANAFE, etc.) The Government of Rwanda through NUR will contribute premises for the programme and payment of NUR academic staff salaries. Similarly the regional partners will offer human resources for teaching and supervision of students. Among other activities, the programme will train eight NUR academic staff (four PhD’s and four M.Sc’s) and two laboratory technicians in the Netherlands at the Wageningen University and Research (WUR). The eight academic staff are potential for the sustainability of the programme. In addition, the programme will organize one short training course for professionals who work with agroforestry, soil conservation and management in other organization in the country, rehabilitate and equip the library and laboratory for soil and plant analysis.

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2. Program Justification The Government of Rwanda has already started a large programme in the rehabilitation of 440 000 ha of agricultural lands in marshland and hillside through RSSP in the MINAGRI. The goals of the M.Sc. programme are to respond to the challenges facing rural communities such as problems of decline of soil fertility, land degradation and sedimentation of marshlands, through the training of qualified personnel. The National University of Rwanda (NUR), through the development of a Master of Science Degree in Agroforestry and Soil Management, will contribute to the professional development that will tackle the above challenges. This will directly contribute to the goals and objectives of the poverty reduction programme, rural economy transformation and other initiatives involved in the rehabilitation of agricultural lands.

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3. Objectives 3.1. General objectives

4. To understand basic principles, management, tools and techniques in agroforestry systems, with an emphasis on soil management and land rehabilitation

• To contribute to rural economic transformation through improvements of natural resources conservation and management

3.2. Specific objectives • Develop knowledge of the underlying components of agroforestry, such as

soil and crop science, forestry, water-management and socio-economic development

• Understand and evaluate the concepts and theories of agroforestry and

soil management practices from a social-economical perspective • Understand the causes and effects of land degradation and design

mitigation measures using techniques of agroforestry and soil management

• Develop ability to formulate feasible policy enabling farmers to apply

natural resource management practices (e.g. land rights, rural finance, extension, etc.)

• Develop analytical and research capacity, project management and

appraisal, and communication skills.

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4. MSc curriculum 4.1. Course credits

Course Course Title Credits

First year Agroforestry systems 3 Erosion and Soil and Water Conservation 3

Introductive courses

Crop and livestock production in agroforestry 3 Site and system characterization 3 Advanced Soil fertility and biology 3 Multiple-purpose tree management 3

core courses

Socio-economics and impact assessment 3 Biometrics and data analysis 3 Research methodology 3

Thesis research preparation Problem analysis, proposal writing, planning,

communication skills 3

Second year Thesis work Fieldwork, Thesis writing and defense 21

Watershed management 3 Extension methods, marketing, institutional arrangements

3 Comprehensive/ Synthesis courses Agroforestry and sustainable rural development 3 Total 60

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4.2. Course time planning

4.3. Course content 1. Agroforestry systems

Tree systems, plantation crop combinations, home gardens, shelterbelts, windbreaks, trees in pasture lands, hedgerow intercropping, improved fallow, fodder trees, legumes, tree-crop interaction, competition, fruit trees, agro-biodiversity

2. Erosion and soil and water conservation Soil and water conservation, soil conservation measures, conservation tillage, water use efficiency, erosion processes

3. Crop and livestock production in agroforestry Fodder crops, nutritional values, manure quality cattle, goats, fish, bees, competition between components, biodiversity

4. Site and system characterization Climate analysis, soil inventory and classification, soil sampling and analysis, site selection criteria, rapid area appraisal, transect sampling, GIS, land use analysis

2007 09/06

2006 10/05

2007

2008

10/06

Course work

Thesis work

Skills: course related to thesis research preparation

11/04 Inception

phase 20

students

20 students

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5. Soil fertility and biology Soil chemical and biological and physical properties, nutrient budgets and cycling, inorganic and organic fertilisers, composting, crop residue management, fertiliser use efficiency, legumes and green manuring, nutrient-water interaction, soil organic matter

6. Multiple-purpose tree management Use of multi-purpose trees, tree selection and propagation, introducing new species, wood quality and caloric values, carbon sequestration, trees for land rehabilitation, rooting pattern and properties

7. Socio-economics and impact assessment Cost-benefit analysis, household characterization, interview techniques, prices and discount rates, markets, adoption strategies

8. Biometrics and data analysis Statistics, software, presentation of data, tables and graphs, interpretation

9. Research methodology Experimental design, measuring techniques, plant sampling and analysis, project planning and monitoring, finances and budgets, on-farm and on-station research, participatory approaches

10. Thesis proposal writing Problem analysis, literature retrieval and review, research planning, communication

11. Integrated watershed management Scale issues, recommendation domains, GIS, modelling, remote sensing, hydrology, on-side and off-side effects, land use planning

12. Extension methods and marketing, Prices and markets inputs and outputs, imperfect markets, transaction costs, institutional arrangements

13. Agroforestry and sustainable rural development Rural development, best practices, poverty alleviation, empowerment, land use systems, long term impact, development scenarios, trade-offs

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4.4. Course components in %

Courses Components in %

Total

Credits

Lectures Practical – laboratory

Practical – field Excursion

Calculation exercises

Modelling exercises

Essay writing Group work (%)

Agroforestry systems 3

60 30 10 100

Soil and water conservation 3

50 20 10 20 100

Crop and livestock production 3

50 20 20 10 100

Site and system characterisation 3

50 20 20 10 100

Advaced soil fertility and biology 3

60 20 20 100

Mutiple-purpose tree management 3

50 20 20 10 100 Socio-economics and impact assessment

3 50 20 10 20 100

Biometrics and data analysis 3

50 50 100

Research methodology 3

50 25 15 10 100

Thesis proposal writing 3

20 80 100

Fieldwork, Thesis writing and defense 21

100

Integrated watershed management 3

40 10 25 25 100

Extension methods and marketing 3

40 10 20 30 100 Agroforestry and sustainable rural development

3 40 20 40 100

Hours per credit point (student perspective):

classroom lecture 15

Selfstudy 25 10 10 10 10 10 40

laboratory work 30 30 30

Excursion 30

Fieldwork 30

Groupwork 40

40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40

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5. Availability of lecturers

Teaching teams

Week number Dates course NUR WUR Extern

40 03 October 2005 Agroforestry systems Dr. Sara N. Prof. K. Giller Dr. Bashir Jama (Icraf)

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42

43 Exam

44 31 October 2005 Soil and water conservation Dr. Naramabuye Prof. Stroosnijder Dr. Gachene (Anafe)

45

46

47 Exam

48 28 November 2005 Crop and livestock production in agroforestry Dr. Mulinda V. Prof. van Keulen Dr. Kebadire M. (Anafe)

49 Dr. Rukazambuga Prof. van Huis Prof. Shemu (ISAR)

50 Dr. Zongo L.

51 Exam

2 09 January 2006 Site and system characterisation Naramabuye F. Dr. Hartemink

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4

5 Exam

6 06 February 2006 Advanced soil fertility and biology Dr. Bitijura Dr. Kuyper Dr. Bationo A. (TSBF)

7 Naramabuye F.

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9 Exam

10 06 March 2006 Mutiple-purpose tree management Dr. Sara N. Prof. Mohren F. Prof. Mugendi (Anafe)

11 Prof. Temu A (Icraf)

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12

13 Exam

14 03 April 2006 Socio-economics and impact assessment Dr. Mugabe J. Prof. De Graaff Dr. Steve Frenzel (Icraf)

15

16

17 Exam

18 01 May 2006 Biometrics and data analysis Dr. Lyambabaje A Dr. Richard Coe (Icraf)

19

20

21 Exam

22 29 May 2006 Research methodology Dr. Lyambabaje A Dr. Richard Coe (Icraf)

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24

25 Exam

26 26 June 2006 Thesis proposal writing

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28 Second year MSc programme THESIS RESEARCH

Integrated watershed management Dr. Visser Dr. Karemangingo C.

Extension methods and marketing Dr. Ndejuru E. Dr. Rueben Dr. Steve Franzel (Icraf)

Agroforestry and sustainable rural development Dr. Sara N. Dr. Hebinck Dr. Joshua Ramish (AfNet)

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6. Admission requirements The programme will be open to holders of 13 points or above of the first degree (B.Sc) in Agriculture from the National University of Rwanda; Or First Class in Natural Resources Management, Agriculture or Forestry from a recognized University. All Candidates will be admitted after passing a qualifying entry examination. Competence in English Language is compulsory.

7. Degree requirements To obtain the M. Sc. degree in Agroforestry and soil management, a candidate must register

(a) For a minimum of 60 credits and must pass all at 50 %. (b) Satisfy all other requirements for the award of a Master of

Science degree of the National University of Rwanda.

8. Opportunities Graduants from the MSc programme in Agroforestry and Soil Management will be equipped with the knowledge on all the aspects of agroforestry and soil management. They will be able to design, set-up and evaluate agroforestry systems and soil management issues. Furthermore they will be able to advise, help and cooperate with local communities and land owners to curb further degradation of natural resources. The MSc programme Agroforestry and Soil Management students will be trained to coope with soil management problems such as soil erosion and decline of soil fertility; causes of land degradation, decrease of yields, and poverty. Students will be able to tackle these problems as well as a lack of

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fuel-wood and unsustainable production of crops. They will have the knowledge to place these problems in a socio-economic perspective and find solutions in co-operation with local people and farmers, suited to specific environmental conditions. With sustainable management of agroforestry systems and soils, less pressure will occur on natural areas and forest reserves, and therefore conservation of these areas and maintenance of the rich biodiversity. The graduates will have competence in the following areas: Research, Education, Extension and rural development, Policy making, and Private sector and agri-business.

The contents of the curriculum will be of a highly scientific level, which provides students with scientific skills to continue research and execute a (future) PhD in Rwanda or elsewhere, after graduation. This will serve as a continuous capacity building of staff members, for the National University as wel as qualified people that can help to support Rwanda with the desired rural economic transformation and the implementation of the future National Forest Plan. During the project, the project-team members will look for additional funding for promising students of the MSc-prgramme in Agroforestry and Soil management, to conduct PhD research.

9. Future cooperation between NUR and WUR The project members of Wageningen University hope to continue collaboration with the National University of Rwanda on different projects, during this project and in future. Possibilities for collaboration are joint research projects in the field of agroforestry and soil management and exchange of MSc and PhD students.

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10. Budget summary Item units cost per unit 2005 2006 2007 2008 Total WUR Project Coordination ls 35000 35000 35000 35000 140000 NUR 6 % budget 93000 Management (SC, workshops) 4 17500 17500 17500 17500 17500 70000 NL staff time 200/250/200 500 30000 80000 80000 50000 240000 Regional staff ls 5000 10000 15000 15000 10000 50000 PhD's training at WUR 4 100000 400000 MSc's training at WUR 4 36660 146640 Short courses 1 10000 10000 Laboratory technician training 2 20000 Purchase of books ls 20000 Laboratory investment ls 65000 Equipment ls 20000 Vehicles 2 35000 70000 Consumables (incl stud. Papers) ls 7500 7500 7500 7500 30000 Msc research costs at NUR 40 1500 60000 NUR admin costs ls 10000 10000 10000 10000 40000 5 % contingencies 77500 Total 1552140