Diploma in Floriculture

Introduction

This Diploma in Floriculture is meant for both career and potential farmers/gardeners. This programme targets the training of human resource for all actors and stakeholders of the flower sector (breeders, input suppliers, flower growers, transporters, traders, retailers, and consumers) with a focus on the entire production chain of floricultural crops. The programme covers among other things: inputs, propagation, crop agronomy, harvest, post harvest handling, marketing, processing, consumption trends, environmental conservation, entrepreneurship and management skills development of the trainees.

Course Objectives

The overall objective of the floriculture diploma programme is to produce highly competent personnel who can work productively in the flower industry. This highly competent personnel is necessary for the flower industry to be more competitive and therefore profitable.

Course Duration

The entire study period of study of the diploma program extends over a period of two years. Each academic year has two semesters and it starts in August and ends in May.

Each course unit is tailored around the need in the floricultural production sector and the course units are conducted through formal lectures, complemented with seminars, workshops, practical and collaborative work.

Case studies and group projects play a significant role in the teaching approach, which include excursions to flower farms, gardens, and/or companies.

In the final semester of their study Floriculture students embark on a technical research and special project on topics and themes of their choice which is aimed at allowing students to conceptualize and practice all they have learnt in for purposes of innovation and problem solving.

Course Structure

Year 1 : Semester one

Course unit	Code	Credit value	LH	TH	PH	AS	CH
Botany and Ecology	DFLT101	3	21	02	30	07	45
Agro Microbiology	DFLT102	2	09	02	24	07	30
Applied entomology	DFLT103	3	12	02	38	07	45
Statistics	DFLT104	2	18	05	30	07	30
Ethics	DFLT105	2	15	03	10	07	30
Communication skills	DFLT106	2	13	03	14	07	30
Production economics	DFLT107	3	18	05	30	07	45
ICT	DFLT108	2	15	04	38	07	30
Soil and soil-less culture	DFLT109	2	11	03	18	07	30
Botany and Ecology	DFLT101	3	21	02	30	07	45
Agro Microbiology	DFLT102	2	09	02	24	07	30
Sub-total		21	132	29	232	63	315
1st Internship	DFLT110	2	Semester one courses				2 weeks

Year 1 : Semester two

Course unit	Code	Credit value	LH	TH	PH	AS	CH
Principles and practices of management	DFLT111	3	15	04	38	07	45
Crop physiology	DFLT112	3	15	04	38	07	45
Biometry	DFLT113	3	15	04	38	07	45
Ornamental Propagation and nursery management	DFLT114	3	13	06	38	07	45
Plant pathology	DFLT115	3	13	06	38	07	45
Greenhouse construction and maintenance	DFLT116	3	15	04	38	07	45
Irrigation and fertigation	DFLT117	3	15	04	38	07	45
Sub-total		21	101	32	266	49	315
2nd Internship	DFLT119	4	First year courses				4 weeks

Year 2 : Semester one

Course unit	Code	Credit value	LH	TH	PH	AS	CH
Climate control	DFLT201	3	15	04	38	07	45
Research methods	DFLT202	3	10	05	46	07	45
Market and entrepreneurship	DFLT203	3	17	06	30	07	45
Integrated Pest Management	DFLT204	3	10	05	46	07	45
Ornamental plant production	DFLT205	3	13	06	38	07	45
Final project one	DFLT206	2	03	09	36	00	30
Environmental issues in floriculture	DFLT207	2	08	03	24	07	30
HIV/AIDS	DFLT208	2	16	03	16	03	30
Sub-total		21	92	41	274	45	315

Year 2 : Semester two

Course unit	Code	Credit value	LH	TH	PH	AS	CH
Farm management	DFLT208	3	15	04	38	07	45
Human resource management	DFLT209	3	19	04	30	07	45
Business law	DFLT210	2	12	04	14	07	30
Chain management	DFLT211	3	15	04	38	07	45
Final project two	DFLT212	6	00	18	144	00	90
Harvest and post harvest handling techniques	DFLT213	3	15	04	38	07	45
Sub-total		20	76	38	302	35	300
Total		83	401	140	1074	182	1245
Internship	DFLT214	8	1st and 2nd year courses				8 Weeks

Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the one of following requirements to join the program:.

The Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (A'Level) with at least a principle pass in Biology and two subsidiary passes in any other science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Agriculture and Mathematics)
A Certificate of Agricultural Sciences from a recognized agricultural training institute.
Career farmers or gardeners with extensive industrial experience can apply, but will have to sit and pass the mature entry examination.

Career Prospects for Graduates

In line with the competence based teaching principles at Mountains of the Moon University, this programme ensures that participants develop competencies with regard to horticultural business. After completing the Diploma in Floriculture, graduates are likely to be employed as:

Flower farm managers and supervisors
Researchers
Floricultural trainers
Florists
Floricultural consultants
Flower grower on small scale