Department of Crop Production Technology

Brief Description of Department (Crop Production Technology (CPT))

 

1. Historical Background: Crop Production Technology was an offshoot of Agricultural Technology Department and got an approval to be mounted by National Board of Technical Education in 2020 after the initial resources inspection visit. The Department starts its operation as a functional Department with 4 Students as soon as the approval was granted.
2. General Information

Higher National Diploma in Crop Production Technology

 

1. Goal of the Programme:

To produce higher agricultural technicians who are adequately and technically equipped with in-depth and practical knowledge of Crop  

Production and are capable of operating and managing large-scale farm enterprises.

 

1. Objectives of the Programme:

          At the end of the programme, the Diplomate(s) should be able to:

1. Prepare the land, using all the necessary implements and equipment and applying various land preparation methods and techniques.
2. Identify the soil types suitable for various types of crops.
3. Produce or acquire improved varieties of planting materials.
4. Operate farm machinery, equipment and implements and carry out their routine maintenance.
5. Apply irrigation techniques to boost crop production.
6. Carry out routine management operations in crop farms e.g. a) fertilizer application b) herbicidal application c) insecticidal application d) fungicidal application; at the right time using correct formulations.
7. Establish ornamental and horticultural nursery and design landscape.
8. Process and store harvested crops.
9. Assist in research on crop production.
10. Carry out extension work among rural farmers.

 

1. Minimum Entry Requirements:

Applicants with all of the following qualifications may be considered for admission into the Higher National Diploma Programmes by direct entry.

• The minimum entry requirements for ND Programme in Agricultural Technology or Horticultural Technology.
• The National Diploma with a minimum of lower credit pass in Agricultural Technology or Horticultural Technology.
• A minimum of one year post National Diploma cognate work experience.

 

1. Programme Duration:

The HND programme runs for two academic sessions of two semesters each (four semesters).

 

1. Curriculum Structure

            The HND Crop Production Technology is a two-year programme which includes at least 3-4 months of supervised industrial experience to be arranged by the institution.

The curriculum is structured into four semesters of classroom and practical activities in the institution. Each semester of institutional based activities shall be for duration of 17 weeks distributed as follows:

1. 15 contact weeks of teaching, i.e. theory, practical exercises, quizzes, tests, etc; and

2 weeks for examination and registration

1. The curriculum of the programme consists of three main components viz:
2. a) General Studies Courses
3. b) Foundation Courses
4. c) Professional Courses

The General Studies component includes courses in General Sciences, English Language/Communication, Entrepreneurship Development and Computer Studies

The General Education Courses shall account for not more than 10- 15% of the total contact hours for the programme.

`           Foundation Courses: Organizational Behaviour, Research Methods, Law courses etc. The number of hours for the foundation    courses shall be between 10 – 15% of the total contact hours for the programme.

Professional Courses are specialized core courses, which give the student the theory and practical skills he/she needs to practice in his/her field of specialization at the technical level.

Those specialised core courses account for between 60- 70% of the total contact hours of the programme. 

 

f            Project

Every HND student is required to successfully complete a project in the field of Crop Production Technology during his/her final year on the programme.

 

g          Evaluation

For the purpose of awarding the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Crop Production Technology, evaluation of the student’s work shall include: examinations, project and course work (tests, quizzes, practical etc.). The weighting of each of the components of the evaluation system shall be prescribed by the National Board for Technical Education and the institutions running the programme.

 

h          Conditions for the Award of the Diploma

 

i           The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) shall accredit the HND programme in Crop Production Technology before the award of the diploma certificate. Details about the process of accrediting programmes for the award of National Diploma or Higher National Diploma shall be in line with guidelines from the Executive Secretary, (NBTE), Plot B, Bida road, P.M.B 2239, Kaduna Nigeria.

 

ii          The institution will award the Higher National Diploma to candidates who successfully completed the programme after passing the prescribed coursework, examination, and diploma project. Such candidates should have completed between 72 – 80 semester credit units as prescribed in the programme.

 

iii        The Higher National Diploma (HND) Crop Production Technology shall be awarded to only persons who have satisfied all conditions for the award of the certificate as laid down by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the institution in which the programme is offered.

 

i           Classification of Diplomas:

Higher National Diploma (HND) shall be based on a total scale of 4 points classified into the following categories:

Distinction                –           CGPA of 3.50 and above (4.00)

Upper Credit             –           CGPA of 3.00 – 3.49

Lower Credit             –           CGPA of 2.50 – 2.99

Pass                            –           CGPA of 2.00 – 2.49

 

j           Accreditation of Programmes

This programme shall be accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)

 

k          Guidance Notes for Teachers of the Programme

 

i           The curriculum is drawn in course units. This is in keeping with the provision of the National Policy on Education, which stresses the need to introduce semester credit unit to enable a student who wishes to transfer the units already completed in an institution of similar standard from which he is transferring.

ii          In designing the units, the principles of the modular system by product has been adopted, thus making each of the professional modules, when completed, provide the student with technical operative skills, which can be used for employment purposes.

iii        As the success of the credit unit system depends on the articulation of programmes in the institutions and industry, the curriculum content has been written in behavioural objectives, so that it is clear to all, the expected performance of the student who successfully completes the programme.

iv         The teaching of the theory and practical work should, as much as possible, be integrated. Practical Exercises especially those in professional courses and laboratory work should, as much as possible, be integrated.

 

CURRICULUM TABLE

 

HND CROP PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY

 

 HND I                                                            1^ST SEMESTER

COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	L	P	T	CH	CH/SEMESTER
CPT 311	Crop Production I (Roots, Tubers, Fibres)	1	2	–	3	45
CPT 312	Crop Physiology	2	2	–	4	60
CPT 313	Agro-Climatology	1	1	–	2	30
CPT 314	Cropping Systems	1	2	–	3	45
CPT 315	Agricultural  Entomology	2	2	–	4	60
CPT 316	Pedology and Soil Survey	2	3	–	5	75
CPT 317	Crop Farm Practice I	1	3	–	4	60
CPT 318	Agricultural Biochemistry	1	1	–	2	30
GNS 301	Use of English III	2	–	–	2	30
	TOTAL	13	16	–	29	435

 HND I                                                                                                             2^ND  SEMESTER

COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	L	P	T	CH	CH/SEMESTER
AGR 302	Field Experimentation and Data Analysis	1	2	–	3	45
AGR 303	Farm Management	2	–	–	2	30
CPT 321	Principles of Genetics	1	1	–	2	30
CPT 322	Plant Pathology	1	2	–	3	45
CPT 323	Crop Production II (Cereals, Legumes, Oil Crops	2	2	–	4	60
CPT 324	Crop Farm Practices II	1	3	–	4	60
AEM 314	Extension Methods	2	2	–	4	60
GNS  302	English Language and Communication	2	–	–	2	30
	TOTAL	13	11	–	24	360

 

 

HND II                                                                                                                        1^ST SEMESTER

COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	L	P	T	CH	CH/SEMESTER
AES 413	Irrigation Technology	1	2	–	3	45
CPT 431	Crop Production III (Permanent Crops	2	2	–	4	60
CPT 432	Weed Management	1	2	–	3	45
CPT 433	Plant Breeding	1	2	–	3	45
CPT 434	Horticulture	1	2	–	3	45
CPT 435	Crop Farm Practice III	1	2	–	3	45
CPT 436	Crop Farm Mechanisation	2	2	–	4	60
AGR 401	Research Methodology	2	–	–	2	30
EEd 413	Entrepreneurship Development	2	2	–	4	60
	TOTAL	13	16	–	29	435

 

 

HND II                                                                                                                        2^ND SEMESTER

COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	L	P	T	CH	CH/ SEMESTER
CPT 441	Produce and Post Harvest Management	1	3	–	4	60
CPT 442	Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design	1	2	–	3	45
CPT 443	Pasture Agronomy	1	2	–	3	45
CPT 444	Seed Production and Pathology	1	2	–	3	45
CPT 445	Soil Fertility and Crop Nutrition	2	2	–	4	60
AES 432	Drainage Technology	1	3	–	4	60
AGR 402	Agricultural Personnel Management	2	–	–	2	30
AEM 446	Rural Sociology	2	–	–	2	30
COM 311	Computer Programming	2	2	–	4	60
CPT 446	Seminar	1	–	–	1	15
CPT 447	Project	–	–	–	6	–
	TOTAL	14	16	–	30	450