Introduction

Social-Economics development in Agriculture deals with basic concepts underlying peasant characteristics, peasant production economics, theories of optimization and individual and household decision-making process, agricultural marketing and financing, models of agricultural development, and policies for solving the problems of agricultural and rural development in poor countries of the world.

Duration

5 Days

Target audience

This course is intended for various actors in the Agriculture Extension (Agricultural extension officers, senior agricultural officials and policy makers) working with communities, in governments, funding agencies, Research organizations and non-government organizations, Stakeholders linked to agribusiness, Farmer based group, Food processors, Traders and intermediaries, Production Managers and Agribusiness stakeholders.

COURSE LEVEL: Foundation

Course Objectives

At the end of this IRES training course, you will learn how to:

• Provide participants with an exposure to the major problems, theories, models and policies of agricultural development.
• Acquaint participants with preliminary knowledge of economic principles of agricultural production in developing countries.
• Enable participants to clearly examine the rural development policy of the country and propose possible and Innovative solutions to challenges that could be faced  in  the  process.
• Introduce students with peasant risk aversion and mitigation mechanisms under conditions of uncertainty
• Acquaint students with agricultural optimization techniques and decision making
• Enable students acquire the knowledge and practices of agricultural marketing, financing and production Programming and forecasting approaches.

Course Outline

Module 1; Introduction 

•        Definition and scope of economics of agriculture
•        Historical development of agriculture
•        Role of agriculture in economic development
•        Interdependence of agriculture and industry

Module 2; Economics of Agricultural Development 

•         Structure of Agricultural System in Developing and Developed World
•         Stages of agricultural transformation
•         The need for agricultural transformation
•         Peasant characteristics: Subsistence farming: risk, uncertainty and survival
•         Mixed farming
•         Modern commercial farming
•         Conditions for agricultural development
•         Technology and innovation
•         Conducive institutional and pricing policies
•         Education

Module 3;Producer Decision making 

•         Production with single variable input
•         The production function
•         Physical Input-output relationship
•         Value input-output relationship
•         Production with two variable inputs
•         The production function
•         Input-input relationship
•         Least cost combination of inputs
•         Product-product relationship and enterprise selection

Module 4; Agricultural marketing 

•          Marketing characteristics
•          Functions of agricultural marketing
•          Marketing agents and enterprises
•          Integration and diversification of marketing
•          Transaction costs and marketing efficiency

Module 5; Agricultural Finance

•          Sources of agricultural finance
•          Credit Worthiness Analysis
•          Loan repayment Plans
•          The old and new agricultural credit policies

Module 6; Uncertainty and farm Decision making

•          Sources of Uncertainty
•          Decision Making under Uncertainty
•          Mechanisms of Mitigating risk and uncertainty
•          Risk-averse peasant
•          Drudgery-averse peasant
•          The Sharecropping peasant

Module 7; Farm Decision Making Methods

•         Farm Budgeting
•         Farm Management Simulation
•         Farm Strategy Decisions
•         Planning Stages
•         Cropping and Livestock Decisions

Course Administration Details:

METHODOLOGY

The instructor-led training is delivered using a blended learning approach and comprises of presentations, guided sessions of practical exercise, web-based tutorials and group work. Our facilitators are seasoned industry experts with years of experience, working as professional and trainers in these fields.

All facilitation and course materials will be offered in English. The participants should be reasonably proficient in English.

ACCREDITATION

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with an Indepth Research Institute (IRES) certificate certified by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA).

TRAINING VENUE

The training will be held at IRES Training Centre. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments and lunch.

All participants will additionally cater for their, travel expenses, visa application, insurance, and other personal expenses.

ACCOMMODATION AND AIRPORT PICKUP

Accommodation and airport pickup are arranged upon request. For reservations contact the Training Officer.

Email:[email protected].  

Mob: +254 715 077 817

TAILOR- MADE

This training can also be customized to suit the needs of your institution upon request. You can have it delivered in our IRES Training Centre or at a convenient location.

For further inquiries, please contact us on Tel: +254 715 077 817.

Mob: +254 792516000, +254 792516010 or mail [email protected]

PAYMENT

Payment should be transferred to IRES account through bank before the course start date

Send proof of payment to [email protected]

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