BSc (Hons) Agriculture (Specialisation: Sustainable Forestry) – A324 
(Subject to Approval by Senate)

1.	Objectives 
 
Mauritius has less than 2% of its endemic forests left, and it is of vital importance to conserve these remaining pristine areas for our future generations. Forests have a vital role to play in climate change, preservation of biodiversity, carbon sequestration, in the environment in general, and also as a source of economically important products. Furthermore, Mauritius is at the cross roads as far as its land use is concerned.  Large acreage of land, previously under sugarcane, will be converted to other uses. The right path will lead to environmental conservation and sustainable development.  Forestry and agro forestry are among the land uses that offer considerable potential.  Government is laying stress on sustainable alternatives to land use such as agro forestry and forestry, particularly since ecotourism is expected to assume greater importance in the coming years. 
 
This programme aims to equip students with a broad spectrum of scientific, technical, managerial and business skills, and knowledge needed to contribute to the development and enhancement of the forestry sector in Mauritius.  

On completion of this programme, learners will be able to:
 
•	acquire knowledge and appreciation of the characteristics and dynamics of agricultural and forest ecosystems;

•	acquire knowledge of the realised and potential economical importance of forests; 

•	obtain knowledge and skills of various agricultural and forest technologies;

•	acquire knowledge and skills in the management, protection and conservation of forest and agro forestry ecosystems; 

•	develop the ability to transfer relevant knowledge and skills of appropriate agricultural and forest management practices to relevant stakeholders.
 
2.	General Entry Requirements
 
In accordance with General Entry Requirements for Admission to the University for Undergraduate Degrees.
 
3.	Programme Requirements
 
SC:  Credit in Mathematics and Chemistry.
 
2 GCE 'A' Level passes in related approved Science subjects (Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Food Studies, Computer Science or Computing).

Preference will be given to candidates holding an 'A' Level in Biology, Chemistry or Physics.

4.	Programme Duration
Normal (Years)                                Maximum (Years)
Degree                                                3                                              	 5
 
5.	 Credits per Year: Minimum 18 credits, Maximum 48 credits subject to Regulation 4.
 6.	Minimum Credits Required for the Award of Undergraduate Degree: 108
 
Breakdown as follows:
 
 	Credits from	
 	Core Taught Modules	Project	
Degree 	99	9	
 
	Practical Training and the Scientific Communication module must be completed satisfactorily for the award of the degree.
 
Students may exit with 
 
(a) a Certificate after having earned 30 credits in core modules.
(b) a Diploma after having earned 60 credits in core modules.

7.	Assessment
 
Each module will be assessed over 100 marks (i.e. expressed as %) with details as follows (unless otherwise specified):
 
Assessment will be based on a Written Examination of 2-3 hour duration, carrying a weighting of 70%, and Continuous Assessment carrying 30% of total marks for AGRI modules.  Modules from other Faculties/Departments/Centres will carry weighting in the Written Examination and the Continuous Assessment as specified by the concerned Faculties/Departments/Centres.  Continuous Assessment will be based on laboratory/field works, and/or assignments, and should include at least 1 class test.

A minimum of at least 30% should be attained in each of Continuous Assessment and Written Examination, with an overall total of 40% for a candidate to pass a module.

Modules will carry the weightings of 1, 3 or 5 depending on their status (Introductory, Intermediate or Advanced). Weighting for a particular module is indicated within parentheses in the module code.

Modules will carry credits in the range of 3 to 6.  Project will carry 9 credits.
 
 Assessment of practical training will be based on supervisor’s report and student’s report. For satisfactory completion of the practical training, a minimum of 40% should be attained.  The ‘Practical Training’ will be offered either at the end of year 1/or at the end of year 2, depending on placement opportunities.	

Assessment of the scientific communication module will be based on continuous assessment of students throughout the module and/or submission of a portfolio. For satisfactory completion of the module, a minimum of 40% should be attained.
              
Written examinations for all the modules will be carried out at the end of the year.
 
8.	Important Note
 
The rules as stipulated in this Programme Structure and Outline Syllabus will replace all other rules and regulations.

 9.             List of Modules
                                                		               
Code
	Module Name	Hr / Yr
L+P
	Credits	
COMS 1010(1)	Communication Skills	DE	3	
CSE   1010e(1) 	introduction to Information Technology	OE	3	
AGRI 1018Y(1) 	Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science	45+ 60	5	
AGRI 1019Y(1)	Crop Science	45+ 60	5	
AGRI 1020Y(1)	Biology and Control of Plant Pests, Diseases, and Weeds	45+ 60	5	
AGRI 1021Y(1)	Introductory Crop Production	45+ 60	5	
AGRI 1022Y(1)	Animal Science	45+ 60	5	
AGRI 1023Y(1)	Animal Production	45+ 60	5	
                                                                                                                                       	                                                                                                                         
AGRI 2001Y(3)	Food Science and Technology	60+ 60 	6	
				
AGRI 2025Y(3)	Introductory Applied Systems, Economics, Management
and Extension	60+ 60	6	
AGRI 2026Y(3)	Biotechnology	60+ 60 	6	
AGRI 2045Y(3)	Statistical Methods for  Agricultural Sciences	45+ 45	4	
AGRI 2047Y(5)	Silviculture	45+ 45	4	
AGRI 2048Y(5)	Forest Ecology and Forest Biodiversity	60+ 60	6	
AGRI 2049Y(5)	Forest Management 	45+ 45	4	
                                                                                   
AGRI 3000Y(5)	Project	-	9	
AGRI 3056Y(5)	Forestry and Ecotourism	60+ 45	5	
AGRI 3057Y(5)	Forest Protection	60+ 45	5	
AGRI 3058Y(5)	Economic Importance of Forestry	60+ 60	6	
AGRI 3059Y (5)	Application of GIS and Remote Sensing in Forestry	60+ 60	6	
AGRI 3060Y(5)	Forest and Sustainable Land Management 	60+ 45	5	
AGRI 3100	Scientific Communication		 20+0	-	

AGRI2000 - Practical Training can be done in either Year 1 or Year 2
AGRI3100 – Scientific Communication will be done in Semester 1 in Year 3 

Total no. of credits :  108

10.	Programme Plan - BSc (Hons) Agriculture (Specialisation : Sustainable Forestry)  

Year 1

Code
	Module Name	Hr / Yr
L+P
	Credits	
COMS 1010(1)	Communication Skills	DE	3	
CSE 1010e(1) 	introduction to Information Technology	OE	3	
AGRI 1018Y(1) 	Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science	45+ 60	5	
AGRI 1019Y(1)	Crop Science	45+ 60	5	
AGRI 1020Y(1)	Biology and Control of Plant Pests, Diseases, and Weeds	45+ 60	5	
AGRI 1021Y(1)	Introductory Crop Production	45+ 60	5	
AGRI 1022Y(1)	Animal Science	45+ 60	5	
AGRI 1023Y(1)	Animal Production	45+ 60	5	

Year 2
       
AGRI 2001Y(3)	Food Science and Technology	60+ 60 	6	
AGRI 2025Y(3)	Introductory Applied Systems, Economics, Management
and Extension	60+ 60	6	
AGRI 2026Y(3)	Biotechnology	60+ 60 	6	
AGRI 2045Y(3)	Statistical Methods for  Agricultural Sciences	45+ 45	4	
AGRI 2047Y(5)	Silviculture	45+ 45	4	
AGRI 2048Y(5)	Forest Ecology and Forest Biodiversity	60+ 60	6	
AGRI 2049Y(5)	Forest Management 	45+ 45	4	

Year 3

AGRI 3000Y(5)	 Project	-	9	
AGRI 3056Y(5)	Forestry and Ecotourism	60+ 45	5	
AGRI 3057Y(5)	Forest Protection	60+ 45	5	
AGRI 3058Y(5)	Economic Importance of Forest	60+ 60	6	
AGRI 3059Y (5)	Application of GIS and Remote Sensing in Forestry	60+ 60	6	
AGRI 3060Y(5)	Forest and Sustainable Land Management 	60+ 45	5	
AGRI 3100	Scientific Communication	20 + 0	-	

Total no. of credits :  108

11.	Outline Syllabus
 
COMS 1010(1)  -  COMMUNICATION SKILLS 
Writing skills, non-verbal communication, modes of speech delivery and presentation aids, speeches, perception and listening skills, business and technical writing.
 
CSE 1010e(1)  -  INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
The World of Computers; Main components of the computer; The evolution of computers; Input and output devices; Secondary storage; Programming, Systems Software; Application software; Systems analysis and design; Communications and connectivity; The internet; Information technology and society.
 
 AGRI 1018Y(1) - AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY AND SOIL SCIENCE
Agrochemicals, their properties, metabolism, and mode of action.  Chemistry of fertilsers: straight, complex, compound mixed, blended fertilisers.  Fertiliser solutions.   Foliar fertilisers.   Manures, municipal sewage, compost.  Chemistry of pesticides: Organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, dinitrophenols, phthalimides, substituted ureas, triazines, inorganics, botanical pesticides, bio-pesticides.   Analysis of pesticides and fertilisers.
 
Soil as a natural body. Weathering. Factors and processes in soil formation. Physical, physio-chemical, biological and mineralogical properties of soil.  Soil profile. Soil air, water, temperature, soil organic matter and soil organisms. Concepts of soil fertility and land suitability. Soil taxonomy. Soil biology. Soil amendments. Soil pollution. Heavy metals. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), persistent organic pollutants (POP) in soils.  Soil bioremediation.
  
AGRI 1019Y(1)  - CROP SCIENCE
Classification, identification, morphology, ecology and uses of economically important crops.  Mendelian Inheritance.  Linkage and chromosome mapping.  Sex linked and extra-nuclear inheritance.  Quantitative and population genetics.

Objectives of plant breeding.  Selection techniques.  Methods of crop improvement.  Genetic variation and manipulation of variability.  Breeding of selected crops.  Legislative framework.  
 
Environmental influences on crop growth and development.   Vegetative and reproductive plant physiology.   Plant water relations.  Plant growth substances.  Plant growth analysis.  Yield determination and crop productivity.
 
AGRI 1020Y(1)  - BIOLOGY AND CONTROL OF PLANT PESTS, DISEASES AND WEEDS
Taxonomy, systematic, biology, ecology and economic importance of pests, plant pathogens and weeds affecting crops.  Control and management of pests, diseases and weeds of crop plants.   Concept and principles of IPM. Biological, physical, chemical, cultural and biology-based methods of pest control.   Economics of crop protection. Quarantine for plant health and biological control agents; pest-free areas; Sanitary & phytosanitary issues as technical trade barriers; Pest risk assessment, surveillance and mitigation; Phytosanitary inspection,quarantine treatments and disposal of plants/ produce; Standards, certification and legislation. Climate change and crop protection. GIS and Remote Sensing for crop protection.
	
AGRI 1021Y(1)  - INTRODUCTORY CROP PRODUCTION
Principles of agronomy.  Crop-environment interactions.  Cropping systems.   Introduction to crop propagation.  
 
Plant nutrition. Nutrient deficiency symptoms and their correction.  Nutrient requirements and fertiliser recommendations for specific crops/cropping systems. Commercial fertilisers.  Green manuring.  Organic manures.  
 
Field crop agronomy.  Husbandry and production of economically important crops.   Field operations and techniques in crop production.
 
AGRI 1022Y(1) - ANIMAL SCIENCE
Anatomy of non ruminant and ruminant animals digestive systems.  Principles of nutritional physiology and biochemistry.  Meeting nutritional objectives of farm animals.   Feeds and feed evaluation.  Production of compound feeds: quality assurance framework.
 
Avian Reproductive Systems and The mammary gland structure.  Endocrine effects on animal products: Milk production, egg production.
 
Muscle structure and biology.  Growth and body composition.  Farm Animal Reproductive systems (Male and Female). Reproductive physiology (Oestrous cycles, puberty, pregnancy and parturition.  Genetic and physiological adaptation to the environment, especially in hot climate.
 
Principles of Meat science: chemical composition.  Post Mortem Muscle Chemistry.  Effects of pre and post slaughter treatments on carcass /meat quality and hygiene.  Carcass appraisal.
 
An introduction to the basic principles of quantitative and qualitative genetics. Breeding systems of various farm  animals.
 
Disease causing agents.  Major Pests and diseases of farm animals.  The impact of diseases at the animal, enterprises and national and global levels.  Spread and transmission of diseases. The immune system: structure and function. Natural and acquired immunity.  Food Borne Diseases.  Zoonotic diseases.
 
AGRI 1023Y(1) - ANIMAL PRODUCTION
Role and importance of animal production systems in agricultural enterprises: poultry, pigs, beef and dairy cattle, deer, sheep, goats rabbits, production potential of novel species. Constraints to animal productivity and production.  Public concerns over animal production practices.
 
Fundamental stockmanship for managing farm animals: rationing; weighing and tagging; usage of preventive and diagnostic equipment; handling and restraining animals, animal’s environment; evaluation of body condition score; performance records.  Diagnosing farm animal abnormal behaviour.  Animal housing evaluation.  Pasture management.

AGRI 2001Y(3) - FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Classification, chemical structure and properties of food constituents and food additives.  Chemical composition, properties and nutritional value of food commodities.  Primary sensory attributes of foods and perception of food quality. Microbial food spoilage. Useful micro-organisms.  Incidence and causes of food borne disease. Characteristics of major food-borne disease micro-organisms.   Physical, chemical, sensory and microbiological analysis of foods.  Types of nutrients and their role in the human body.  Planning a balanced diet.
Food laws and standards.  Concepts of food quality and safety.  Factors which affect quality and safety.  Food hazards.  Food preservation by heating, chilling, freezing, dehydration, chemicals and ionizing radiation.  Packaging materials.  Processing of selected food products.  Process control, application of principles of food hygiene and relevant codes of practice/guidelines to ensure quality and safety.  Traceability. Importance of food safety management throughout the food chain.  Comprehensive food safety management systems.
 
AGRI 2025Y(3)  -  INTRODUCTORY APPLIED SYSTEMS, ECONOMICS, MANAGEMENT AND EXTENSION 
Introduction to agricultural systems concepts: holistic approach to agriculture; an overview of farming systems in the World with particular reference to the SADC region. 
 
Applied Economics in Agriculture: Introducing microeconomics and macroeconomics theories. 
 
Agriculture and Economic Development: Evolution of the Mauritian agricultural sector from beginnings to present days; challenges facing the Mauritian agricultural sector.
 
Agricultural management:  The framework of farm management; introductory farm budgeting. 
 
Agricultural Marketing:  from commodity marketing to value-addition in agricultural products; marketing functions; marketing channels and costs. 

 Agricultural Extension: introductory concepts and principles; Participatory approach in agricultural research, production & extension.
 
AGRI 2026Y (3) - BIOTECHNOLOGY 
Structure and functions of cells and organelles; Bio molecules: Polysaccharides, sugars; storage polysaccharides; Lipids, classification and properties, biological membranes; Proteins, amino acids, covalent and three-D structure of proteins; Enzymes, properties and mechanism of actions, enzyme kinetics.  Glycolysis.  
 
Organisation of genetic material, gene structure, expression and transmission.  Control of gene expression. Structure and properties of DNA.  DNA replication.  Protein synthesis.  Principles of gene cloning.   Recombinant DNA technology.  
 
Concept and basis of biotechnology.  Tissue culture techniques and applications.   Application of biotechnology in agriculture and crop improvement.
 
AGRI 2045Y(3) - STATISTICAL METHODS FOR  AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
Introducing statistics in agriculture. Descriptive statistics – displaying and summarising data. Probability distributions. Point and interval estimation.  Hypothesis testing.  Analysis of categorical data.  Correlation and regression analysis.  Design and analysis of experiments: Principles of agricultural experimentation.  Analysis of variance.  Completely randomized design, Randomized block design, Latin square design.  Factorial treatment structure.  Non-parametric methods.  Data entry and analysis using EXCEL and MINITAB.
 
Introduction to research methodology.   Qualitative and quantitative research.  Sampling methods. Questionnaire development, design and administration.  Data coding and processing using SPSS.   Elements of scientific and technical writing.

AGRI2047Y (5) -  SILVICULTURE
Tree biology.  Silviculture.  Silvicultural systems.  Types of trees and tree species in forests.  Tree identification. Culture methods. Soil types.  Water requirements.   Nutrient management.   Forest growth and measurements.  Biomass measurements.

Monitoring of forest physical, chemical, biological parameters.  New methodologies and technologies in forest silviculture.  Community forestry.

Tree species in forests in Mauritius, offshore islets and outer islands. 

AGRI 2048Y(5)  -  FOREST ECOLOGY AND FOREST BIODIVERSITY
Types of forests.  Characteristics and dynamics of various forest ecosystems.   Physical, chemical and biological factors affecting forests and forest productivity.   Energy dynamics in forest ecosystem.   Impacts of natural and anthropogenic activities.  Flora and fauna in forests.  Legislation and International conventions regarding biodiversity in Mauritius.  Endangered and protected species of forest flora and fauna in Mauritius (including Rodrigues and other outer islands).  Invasive alien and endemic species in forests.   Biodiversity conservation. 

AGRI 2049Y(5)  -  FOREST MANAGEMENT
Objectives of forest management.  Concept of increment (mean annual increment and current annual increment).  Types of rotation in forestry.  Yield regulations.  Forest mensurations.  Working plan.  New methodologies and Technologies in forest management.  Forest policy and legislation.  International forest policy dialogues.  
  
AGRI 3000Y(5)  -  PROJECT
Every student will be allocated a research topic related to agriculture.  The research work will be carried out under academic supervision.   Students should demonstrate good practice in using skills and knowledge acquired during the programme and follow dissertation guidelines as laid down by the Faculty of Agriculture. 

AGRI 3056Y(5) - FORESTRY AND ECOTOURISM 
Role of forests in the tourist industry.  Benefits of forests on human health, leisure and recreation. Ecotourism. Marketing and advertising of ecotourism.  Types and characteristics of flora and fauna important in ecotourism. Impact of ecotourism on forest ecosystems.  Protective measures. Remedial measures. Design and site considerations for ecotourist forestry sites.   Operation and management of ecotourist forestry sites.  
 
AGRI 3057Y(5) - FOREST PROTECTION
Abiotic and biotic factors affecting forest ecosystems.  Soil type, water, climate (cyclones, storms, high winds, flooding, fire).  Important pests, diseases and weeds affecting forest ecosystems.  Human activities damaging forests.  Principles and methods of forest protection for biological and economic sustainability.  Fire fighting. Remedial measures.  Best management practices for forest protection.  Methods for assessing status of forest health and productivity. 
 
AGRI 3058Y(5)  -   ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF FOREST
Important benefits from forests.  Economically important products : wood, timber, biomass, wild fruits and spices, honey, silk, pesticidal extracts, medicinal preparations, resin, latex, etc.   Social aspects of forestry. Religious aspects of forestry. 

Wood, timber : Types and quality of wood and timber for various purposes.   Productivity. Harvesting.   Collarding.   

Apiculture :  Honeybee biology,  bee castes, hive design, bee management and feeding, protection from pests, diseases, cyclones and unfavourable climatic conditions, honey extraction and maturation, honey quality. 

Sericulture : Silkworm biology, characteristics of mulberry, silkworm management and feeding, protection from pest, diseases, cyclones and unfavourable climatic conditions, silk extraction, cleaning and reeling, silk properties and quality.   

Pesticidal extracts : secondary metabolites, biologically active chemical groups, mode of action, extraction, preparation, formulation, use.   

Medicinal preparations: types of extracts, medicinal properties, mode of action, preparation, use. 

AGRI 3059Y(5) - APPLICATION OF GIS AND REMOTE SENSING IN FORESTRY 
Principle and components of Global Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing.  Uses of GIS and remote sensing in forestry.   Forest inventory.   Forest measurements.   Monitoring and surveying;  Forest maps.  Stand analysis and data interpretation. 

AGRI 3060Y(5) - FOREST AND SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT 
Properties of soil, water and air in forests.  Soil/land degradation.  Soil/land and water management and conservation in forest ecosystems.  Interaction between forests and its environment (soil, water and air).  Carbon sequestration in forests.  Rainfall patterns and influence on climate.  Role of forests in local and global climate change.  Carbon credits and international conventions.

Agro forestry.  Types of agro forestry.  Combinations of trees and crops of specific purposes.   Benefits of agro forestry.  Effect of agro forestry on soil properties, climate and environment. Economic importance of agro forestry.

Concept of watershed.   Importance of watersheds for the environment, water availability, replenishment. Different watershed areas in Mauritius.  Interactions of watershed and forest ecosystems.  Watershed management.   Drainage. 

Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).  Origins of EIA.  EIA process.  Screening and scooping criteria.  Environmental issues.  EIA write-up, appraisal, feasibility study,  viability and socio-economic aspects.

AGRI 3100 - Scientific Communication
Avenues of communication in science.  Scientific and technical writing. Oral and poster presentations.  Ethics of scientific publishing.
The dissertation guidelines.  Planning and managing the dissertation writing up process – effective literature search and review, introduction, methodology, results, discussion, conclusions, referencing rules and plagiarism.

AGRI 2000 - PRACTICAL TRAINING
Student is required to undergo a practical training of 6-8 weeks duration during winter vacation either in Year 1 or Year 2.  The aim is to expose the student to the real work environment, acquaint him/her of what employers would expect of a graduate.  Student is required to submit a report on her/his training placement.

This module does not carry any credit, but training must be completed satisfactorily for the award of the degree.