i. Course Title: AEA 101- Introduction to Agricultural Economics And Development
ii. Course aim: The aim of the course is to provide students with a general overview of the basic principles of agricultural economics and development theories.
iii. Course Expected Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
• Describe basic economic theories and their applications.
• Link economics of agriculture and the manufacturing industry.
• Relate capital and capital markets, equity, savings and investment aspects.
• Explain agricultural farming systems, factors influencing their development pattern and how they are practised in Tanzania.
• Understand the way agriculture is the cause and solution of global warming.
• Understand the role of the government in the economic development process.
iv. Course Status: Elective
v. Credit Rating: 7.5 Credits
vi. Total hours spent: 75 hours
Lectures
30 hrs
Seminar/Tutorials 15 hrs
Practical 0 hrs
Assignments 15 hrs
Independent Study 15 hrs
Pre-requisite: None
vii. Course Contents
Meaning of economics, agricultural economics; static and dynamic economics; elements of consumer theory, production economics and demand and supply forces; relation of agricultural economics and agribusiness to other agricultural sciences; difference between agricultural and manufacturing industry; types, size and distribution of farms; small scale farming, state farming, private farming, communal farming, subsistence agriculture, peasant agriculture and commercial agriculture, agriculture sector contribution to the total economy; current problems in the development of the rural sector; economic factors and their utilization. Land, land policy and land reforms. Population dynamics-growth rates, working population, dependency ratio and agricultural labour force.
Instruments of government interventions in the economy.
Practical skills
No practical.
viii. Teaching and Learning Activities
Teaching methodology will include lectures, case studies, personal reading, exercises, discussion, group assignment presentations, and guest speakers.
ix. Assessment Methods
The assessments will be through continuous assessments were written timed theory tests, quizzes, individual and group assignment and the end-of-semester university. Course-40% and University examination-60%.
x. Reading List
-Gabagambi, D. (2014). Macroeconomics for Beginners. Teaching compendium for undergraduate course in Introduction to Macroeconomics. Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, SUA (Unpublished), pp-70.
-Mlambiti, M. E. (1998). Introduction to rural economy (1sted.). Mzumbe Book Project. Morogoro-Tanzania.
-Penson, J. B, Capps, O, Rosson, C (III) and Wood word, R. T. (2010). Introduction to Agricultural Economics (5th ed.). Pearson Education Incl. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
Salvatore, D. (2009). Managerial Economics in a Global Economy. Prentice Hall. UK