The document outlines the curriculum for a diploma course in agriculture offered by the Zambian Institute of Agriculture. The 3-year diploma program covers topics like crop science, farm management, farm machinery, livestock production, aquaculture, agriculture economics, land management, and nutrition. Coursework includes classroom instruction and hands-on experience in areas such as crop production, financial management, machinery operation, livestock breeding and feeding, aquaculture methods, economics, conservation, and food security. The goal is to teach students sustainable agricultural practices and land management.

1. Zambian Institute of Agriculture ZIA
+260 963 807 417
+260 978 785 819
+260 964 904 425
House No 9, Kariba Road Kansenshi, P. o. box 250170, Ndola
Email: zambiainstituteofagriculture@gmail.com; pastorkapembwa@gmail.com.
ZAMBIAN INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE DIPLOMA COURSE IN AGRICULTURE
CURRICULUM
YEAR 1 SESSION 1
CROPS SCIENCE 4 CREDITS 576 HOURS
The course will expose students to the general principles of field crop production factors such
as environmental concerns, economic constraint, weather, soil fertility, varietal differences,
cultural practices and pest management will be discussed. The course will also cover harvest
techniques of popular field crops, specific crops include maize, soya beans, cassava, wheat
and other main crops that have potential in Africa.
YEAR 1 SESSION 2
FARM MANAGEMENT AND EXTENSION 4 CREDITS 576 HOURS
The Course will teach students basic financial management skills, such as creation and
following of business plans, record keeping and other more complex instructions such as farm
loan acquisitions. Addition concepts covered in this course include.
1. Productivity and profitability.
2. Goal-setting and fulfilment.
3. Record-keeping.
4. Leadership and management for innovation in agriculture
5. Tax issues.
6. Extension and research Data application.
7. Objectives of agricultural extension.
8. Role of extension workers.
9. History and organisation of extension services.
YEAR 1 SESSION 3
FARM MACHINERY AND ENGINEERING 4 CREDITS 576 HOURS
This course involves the application of mechanical physical, biological and electronic
principles to the solution of real life problems or issues in crop / fruit / vegetables production
and processing among others. The course work includes the study of theories of soil failure,
traction, compaction and floatation on agricultural soils. Dynamics of seeding and
transplanting, soil seeding and seeding machine interactions. Principals of digital and
analogue measurements and the control of temperature, humidity strain, moisture content,
pressure and fluid flow in engineering materials, strain measurements, brittle coating and
related instrumentation and design of energy systems using conventional, non-conventional,
renewable and other alternative power sources.

2. YEAR 2 SESSION 1
LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION 4 CREDITS 576 HOURS
This course will introduce students to the selection, breeding, feeding, management and
marketing of beef, sheep, goats, swine, equine and poultry. Emphasis will be placed on
livestock system and current production technologies, the course also covers principles of
livestock breeding genetics, reproduction and feed management, livestock feeds and feeding.
YEAR 2 SESSION 2
AQUACULTURE 4 CREDITS 576 HOURS
This course will give the students an understanding of the basic principles of aquaculture,
including production systems, water quality, nutrition, and spawning, larval culture and grow
out and culture methodologies of fish and reptiles.
YEAR 2 SESSION 3
AGRICULTURE ECONOMICS 4 CREDITS 576 HOURS
The purpose of the course is to give the students a thorough understanding of the principles
of both microeconomics and macroeconomics in application to individual’s decision makers,
both consumers and farms. Students will study demand, supply and equilibrium in goods and
factor markets. The efficiency of the market economy and the potential role of the
government intervention in the economy. Students will also be introduced to economic
analysis of aggregate employment, income and prices, study aggregate supply economic
measures, fluctuations and growth money and banking, stabilisation techniques and
international trade.
YEAR 3 SESSION 1
LAND MANAGEMENT, NATURAL RESOURCE
CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT 4 CREDITS 576 HOURS
This course will teach students about wild life conservation, environmental policy, and eco
system management to develop solutions for reversing. Focus will be on the need for
sustainable management of the earth's depleting natural resources, such as land
mismanagement and scramble, clean water, energy, minerals and biological resources, in
relation to the growth of the human population.
YEAR 3 SESSION 2
NUTRITION, FOOD SECURITY AND
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 4 CREDITS 576 HOURS
This course will expose the students to sustainable agriculture, nutrition and food security
methodologies and policy measure. Focus will be on basic concepts of nutrition, food security
and livelihoods as well as how to facilitate joint planning for nutrition across sectors. What
methodologies and indicators you can use for nutrition assessment, how to improve
availability. The goal of the study on sustainable agriculture is for the student to understand
the origins major concepts and current issues of sustainability in agriculture.
Prepared by: Christopher Pannet Kapembwa, PhD Agric.
President Zambian Institute of Agriculture.