Course Coordinator: Eng. D V Chiuswa (Ext. 1405: Office: DG29)

Course Objectives: This course aims to:-

*introduce students to the various agric. eng. specializations
*acquaint students with the application of engineering to problems in agriculture
*introduce students to agric. eng. problems in Zimbabwe
*define the functions of the agric. eng. profession
*elaborate on the ethics of agric. engineers and the engineering profession.

COURSE OUTLINE

A.    The Agricultural Engineering Profession
        The agric. eng. profession - education, training and  activities.  Being an engineer-registration and
        accreditation. Professional ethics.  Relations with  other professions.
        Major specializations of agric. engineering.

B.    The Agriculture Industry
       The agric. industry in Zimbabwe - its role in the economy Agricultural productivity and production -
       problems.  Farming systems in Zimbabwe - smallholder and commercial enterprises. Problems in
       agriculture - physical, socio-economic and biochemical. Role of agric. engineers in solving problems
       of agriculture.

C.   Agric. Power Sources, Agric. Machinery and Mechanization
      History of farm machinery.  Farm power sources - human, animal and mechanical. Machinery
      engineering - design, testing an manufacture.  Agric.  mechanization in developing  countries.  Farm
      machinery  management. Mechanization Policy  and Strategy for Zimbabwe.

D.  Soil and Water Engineering
     Engineering properties of soils. Irrigation and drainage  engineering. Soil and water conservation
     engineering. National Irrigation Policy and Strategy for Zimbabwe.

E. Crop Handling, Storage and Processing
    Handling farm produce. Objectives of storage.  On-farm and commercial storage structures.
    Management of storage facilities. Elements of agricultural products processing.

F. Farm Structures and Environmental Engineering
    Farm structures. Functional planning. Elements of construction. Building production. Climate and
    environmental control.