SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES: Department of Horticulture

Introduction

Horticulture products like fruits, flowers, medical plants, vegetables, landscaping plants, and spices are becoming key commodities on the domestic and international markets. Stakeholders in horticulture sector are increasingly faced with production constraints such as resource managing, crop pests and diseases, harvest and post harvest handling, and horticultural product marketing.

Practice

The Horticulture Department at Mountains of the Moon University is proud to be having a highly experience teaching staff. We offer a practical competency based learning and training looking at having graduates who not only will compete highly in the job market, but also be able to create their own jobs. We have chosen this approach because it serves social needs of the community, it provides for a good learning environment, and it enhances the basic competencies of learning. The lectures are punctuated with prior knowledge assessment, role plays, case studies, presentations, debates, practicals and panels.

agic Practicals in the department are based on the tasks defined in a specific job profile. Therefore the learning environment assimilates tasks done in the real working environment. The department has been equipped by the University through the Nuffic project with tools, equipment, structures and land. The available tools, equipment, structures and land have provided us with the strong training base for practicals. The department trains practical subjects under horticulture and floriculture, which require a balance of knowledge and practical component.

The department has partnered with many NGOs in the region in order to meet the needs of the community. Some of the NGOs involved with the department are: SATNET, KRRC, SNV, TBG, CABCS, among others. The partnership with SNV has involved us in their three platforms on honey production, pineapple production and oil production in the region of Rwenzori. We can say that this has prompted us to finding solutions for the community’s needs in these areas.

The programmes we offer generally train participants in aspects of general sciences related to Horticultural and agricultural production such courses include inputs supply chain, propagation, crop agronomy, animal husbandry, harvest, post harvest handling, marketing, processing, and consumption of agricultural products all of which are potential employment segments of graduates from our courses.

Our Vision:
Having strong, vibrant, responsible, creative, competent and goal orientated agriculture graduates serving a sustainable agriculture sector.

Our Mission:
To conduct agricultural training, research and community outreach to stakeholders through positive attitude training, knowledge and skills brokering, leading to to increased agricultural productivity and profitability.