The head’s ambition is to manage a department that responds to the academic and welfare needs of staff and students; to make it a centre of excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and outreach and where all members of staff and students will have a sense of belonging, live in peace, harmony and mutual respect. This realist vision is anchored by our academic staff drawn from various disciplines and many have professional experience in agricultural extension, sociology, community development, education, rural development, management and administration, psychology, as well as public and non-profit private sector. We draw on practical knowledge when devising and delivering courses that will help our graduates to lead the change that is needed in agricultural extension and community development to enhance progressive contribution to sustainable development of Tanzania and the world at large. Thus, when considering joining Sokoine University of Agriculture, choose programmes offered in our department.
Our graduates are mainly employed as extension staff and community development specialists by the government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Also others are employed as tutors and teachers in middle-level colleges/institutes and secondary schools.
The Department is reputed for providing high-quality education and skills to students. The department offers programmes in agricultural extension and community development at both undergraduate (BSc) and postgraduate (M.Sc. and PhD) levels. The department has over twenty academic members of staff and three non-academic members of staff.
The department undertakes innovative, creative and problem-solving research in community development, extension and agricultural innovations. The services ensure sustainable utilization and increased uptake of improved agricultural technologies among farming community members. The department dedicates to bringing about scientific advancements and technological uptake in the fields of Agricultural Extension, Education and Community Development.
DAECD staff have been involved in various research and consultancy activities. The Uluguru Mountains Agricultural Development Project (UMADEP) that was based in DAECD, gave staff opportunities to participate in outreach activities mostly benefitting neighbouring communities. The staff continue to participate in a variety of outreach activities to benefit neighbouring communities. The outreach activities serve as an important placement for practical training for our undergraduate students. We have listed some of the ongoing research projects at https://www.coa.sua.ac.tz/extension/our-researches/research-projects (click here)
Dr. Ntumva Erasmus Mabebe
Head, Department of Agricultural Extension and Community Development