Crop production

Vision:

We commit ourselves to provide competent technicians to transform arable farming to diversified and sustainable enterprise that contribute to the achievement of food security and socio-economic growth in partnership with partners and other stakeholders.

Mission:

Our mission is to identify agricultural potential and stimulate its development and growth by facilitating the adoption of innovative production technologies by the farming community through the:

• Ensuring teaching quality by training professionals
• Carrying out direct community-oriented trainings
• Development of appropriate competencies;
• Transferring Agricultural Technologies to the community
• Conservation of agricultural and natural resources;
• Collaboration with other stakeholders.

“We will achieve this mission through healthy, dedicated, skilled, well resourced and highly motivated staff.”

Values:

In keeping with the government mission of contributing to and sustaining the common public good, the Department of Crop Production values are the followings:

• High quality, innovative, ethical and unbiased trainings, applied research and extension efforts
• Proactive approaches that make a positive difference in Rwandan, ecologies, and communities and maintain relevance in agriculture, environmental sustainability, and health.
• Collaborative, team-oriented approaches to our work.
• Active support for personal and professional competence development for Trainees, Department, Staff, Partners and Stakeholders.
• Personal and Institutional Integrity
• The culture of continuous improvement

Divisions of the Department of Crop Production

I. Crop Production at Diploma level

Studying crop production at Diploma level prepares trainees for careers in farming, farm management and agriculture in general. Crop production deals with growing crops for use as medicine, food and fiber; it includes grains, cotton, flowers, fruits, vegetables, nuts and tobacco. Different crops grow best in different areas of the country. The qualifying trainees in Crop Production will play a vital role to sustain agriculture as Agriculture Technicians. Diploma program in the department of Crop Production, IPTC-South takes 3 years to be covered

II. Agricultural Mechanization NEP & VTC Programs

1. Purpose of the trade

The purpose of this trade is to allow trainees access to the agricultural sector with specific reference to farm machinery operation. This qualification will allow qualifying trainees to become economically active in farming practices. That will have a direct impact on economic development through the increase of agricultural production and the market-oriented agriculture.

In this regards, trainings are delivered in short term period or one year.

• National Employment Program "NEP" for 3 months and designed for farmers who owned the farm machinery. Cooperatives are highly encouraged;
• National Employment Program "NEP" for 4 months and this is a special offer for graduates;
• Vocational Training Centre "VTC" Level 3 for one year period reserved for everybody.

Note that, NEP are delivered free of charge.

      2. Job opportunities

After achieving this qualification, candidates may be employable in farm machinery operation in the following areas:

• Public institutions;
• Private companies/ cooperatives;
• Self-employment (Entrepreneur).

III. IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY NEP &VTC PROGRAMS

       1. Purpose of the trade

Rwanda population is rapidly increasing, while agriculture production is relatively less as compared to the consumers. The one of major solutions of this problem is to make an appropriate irrigation with the aim of fighting against drought and make the agricultural season more productive. IPRC South trains farmers and Rwandan community in general about all irrigation systems. (Drip, Furrow, Border strip, and Basin irrigation system).

2. Duration of training

Trainings are delivered in short term period or one year.

• National Employment Program "NEP" for 3 months and designed for farmers who own the farm machinery and cooperatives are highly encouraged. This training is delivered for free.
• Vocational Training Centre "VTC" Level 3 for one year period reserved for everybod.Job

3. opportunities

After achieving this qualification, candidates may be employable in farm machinery operations in the following areas:

• Public institutions;
• Private companies/ cooperatives;
• Self-employment (Entrepreneur)

Achievements of Crop Production Department

Achievements of Crop Production Department are discussed by programs as the following:

1. This department has started with diploma program in 2 years back. So far the department has only two levels and by next academic year our first intake will be availed on labor market.

• Level I (academic year 2015-2016): 46 Students
• Level II (academic year 2015-2016): 37 Students

       2. Agricultural Mechanization in National Employment Program (NEP)

• 30 farmers are already trained (from October 2015 to January 2016)
• 30 farmers are under training (from March 2016 to May 2016)
• 30 trainees who graduated from different universities/campus are under training

(From April 2016 to July 2016).

       3. Agricultural Mechanization in TVET Certificate I:

• 16 trainees trained (from 08^th Jun 2015 to 01^st April 2016 )
• 30 trainees under training (from 15^th February 2016 to 02^nd January 2017)

       4. Irrigation Technology in National Employment Program (NEP)

• 30 farmers are already trained (from October 2015 to January 2016)
• 30 farmers are under training (from March 2016 to May 2016)

       5. Irrigation Technology in TVET Certificate I:

• 9 trainees trained (from 08^th Jun 2015 to 01^st April 2016 )
• 13 trainees under training (from 15^th February 2016 to 02^nd January 2017)

Partners:

Our partners are: RAB (Rwanda Agricultural Board), NICHE (Netherlands Initiative for Capacity development in Higher Education) BRAMIN (Bralirwa and Minimex Corporation Ltd), ETC Agro. Ltd, etc.

The role of this partnership is to: Share good practices and alternative approaches to the sub-sector development; capacity building and Provide financial support and technical support to the Department, etc.

The Department's Potentiality

The department is favored by:

1. Competent staff;
2. Demonstration/ production fields;

• Well equipped workshop;

1. Eligible trainees;
2. High potential to improve productivity;
3. High export potential for country agricultural products to regional and international markets,

• Country policy focusing on agriculture as a critical mechanism for sustainable social and economic development.
• Active partners.