Agricultural Extension and Technology

Acting Manager:
Dr Moreblessing Chimweta
Qualifications
PhD Agronomy, Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE)
MSc Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sustainability, BUSE
BSc Honours in Agricultural Sciences (Animal Science), BUSE.
Email:mchimweta@muast.ac.zw

Overview
The Department of Agricultural Extension and Technology is housed in the Faculty of Plant and Animal Sciences and Technology. It aims to produce graduates qualified to operate as professional extension or development agents. The programme offers both conventional and weekend classes to cater for the varying needs of our prospective students. In terms of entry requirements, the programme takes normal, special and mature entry students. . Hence, the skills honed by this programme are very crucial in improving the livelihoods of farming communities in a fast-changing world. Specifically, the following are expected to: (i) develop graduates with an understanding of agricultural extension perspectives in the current changing scenario of agriculture; (ii) produce graduates who will strengthen the capacity of the extension system in the era of information and communication management (ICM) so as to provide services in technology diffusion and uptake; (iii) develop students who are knowledgeable of the philosophies and the different concepts and approaches of development and extension as well as its organization and management; (iv) Capacitate students with the principles of human behavior with specific reference to decision making and behavior change and the theories involved in understanding and facilitating change; and (v) Produce graduates knowledgeable of the theory and practical implementation of community development, group dynamics and leadership for the formulation and execution of development plans.

On completion of the degree, the candidate will be able to design, develop and execute or manage scientifically sound situation-specific and community adapted extension or development programmes, conforming to the principles of participatory development with maximum community involvement and impact.

The department also targets to offer technical support and training to smallholder farmers in the local communities and in smallholder irrigation schemes.