APMA41-Agriculture in the Tropics

Module Provider: Agriculture
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Dr Andrew Daymond
Email: a.j.daymond@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Learn about the agricultural systems of tropical and sub-tropical regions. Examine the major components of agricultural systems including crops, livestock, soils and climate, and their interactions. Discuss Awareness of current issues for agriculture in developing countries such as the 'Green Revolution' and the use of pesticides.

Aims:
This module will consider tropical agriculture and horticulture and farming systems, focussing on the physical, climatic, edaphic and biological factors affecting crop and animal production, and using case studies to show how these factors are interrelated and integrated in farming systems and livelihoods.

The module is highly relevant for students following GIIDAE MSc programmes and caters for students following agriculture or horticulture pathways of the MSc in Agriculture and Development.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module students will be able to:

• Agriculture Pathway
  
  
  
  • Describe the major crop and livestock species and farming systems in the tropics and sub-tropics
  
  
  
  


• Horticulture pathway
  
  
  
  • Describe the major horticulture crops and their contribution to farming systems in the tropics/ sub-tropics.
  
  
  • Explain how the distribution of tropical farming systems and their component parts are influenced/constrained by biological, environmental/physical, edaphic and socio-economic factors.
  
  
  
  

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:

Introduction: agriculture and horticulture and major issues facing tropical farming systems in the 21st century

• Characteristics of agriculture including horticulture and agroecosystems in the humid tropics, seasonally arid tropics, semi-arid tropics and highland tropics;.


• The analysis and classification of tropical farming systems and the influence of climate on these;.


• An introduction to the major crops and trees used in tropical agriculture;


• Role of biotic constraints (pests & diseases) on agricultural productivity; 


• Tropical soils: nutrient use and management.


• (Agriculture pathway) The role of livestock in the production system, and ways in which their contribution can be increased. 


• (Horticulture pathway) An introduction to fresh produce in the tropics

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Lectures/seminars and class discussion.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	18
Tutorials	2
Guided independent study:	80
Total hours by term	100
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	80
Oral assessment and presentation	20

Summative assessment- Examinations:

N/A

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

1. Paper on a tropical farming system of the student’s choice (80%)

2. Group presentation on a farming system (must differ from that in (1)) (20%)

Formative assessment methods:
(i) creation of a farm system diagram for a maize-dairy farming system, and, for a location with two wet seasons,
(a) Gantt chart showing monthly crop management calendar and/or
(b) Seasonal feeding calendar for livestock

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy £Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes£, which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
50% overall

Reassessment arrangements:
By submission of a set essay.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:  None

2) Specialist equipment or materials:  None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  None

4) Printing and binding:  None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:  None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  None

Last updated: 22 September 2022