Plant Science overview
Rationale for the program
Plant Science sector has played a fundamental role in the development and modernization of Ethiopian agriculture since the establishment of agricultural higher education institutions in the 1950s. Plant Science graduates have contributed significantly to crop production, agricultural research and innovations, enhancing climate change adaptation, promoting agro-industrial development, creating employment opportunities, supporting export earnings, conserving biodiversity, extension services, seed multiplication, controlling crop pests and diseases, conserving natural resources and supporting agricultural development programs throughout the country with the broader goal of improving the livelihoods of its population.
The primary objective is to produce competent professionals equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in plant production and management. These professionals are expected to engage in research and development activities that support national and international agricultural initiatives.
Debre Markos University established the Center of Excellence for Crop Production and Agro-Processing in February 2023 with the primary objective of enhancing the quality of undergraduate and postgraduate education, research, and innovation in Ethiopia. The Center aims to strengthen the capacity of graduates by providing advanced agricultural knowledge, practical skills, and research competencies that enable them to address current and emerging local, regional, and national challenges in agricultural development. Furthermore, the Center seeks to promote excellence in teaching, research, technology transfer, and community engagement, thereby contributing to sustainable agricultural productivity, food security, and economic development. The Department plan to upgrade our teaching and research facilities, support development and implementation of appropriate curricula and research programs through an integrated and holistic approach with our partners from other universities in Ethiopia and other parts of the world.
Vision of the Program
- The program aspires to become one of the top ten leading departments among East African applied Universities with International Accreditation by 2036.
Mission of the Program
- Educational Excellence: Produce competent, industry-ready graduates through practical training, fieldwork, laboratory and internships.
- Research and Innovation: To create an innovative and problem-oriented and researcher graduates through practical teaching
- Community Engagement : To Provide community and consultancy services through active stakeholder participation, produce graduates who are morally sound through the practical and theoretical education they have learned, who can serve the community sincerely and be role models.
Plant Science Programs
The program provide training in under and postgraduate programs
Programs (Regular and extension)
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Plant Science (ባችለር ሳይንስ ዲግሪበእጽዋት ሳይንስ)
- Sc. in Agronomy (የማስተርስ ሳይንስ ዲግሪበአግሮኖሚ)
- Sc. in Plant Breeding (የማስተርስ ሳይንስ ዲግሪበእጽዋት ማዳቀል)
- Sc. in Plant Protection (የማስተርስ ሳይንስ ዲግሪበእጽዋት ጥበቃ)
- Sc. in Agricultural Entomology (የማስተርስ ሳይንስ ዲግሪበግበርና ተባይ)
- PhD in Agronomy (የዶክትሬት ዲግሪ በአግሮኖሚ)
- PhD Plant Breeding ((የዶክትሬት ዲግሪ በእጽዋት ማዳቀል)
Student demography
The Department of Plant Science has an intake capacity of 40 to 50 students per study program at the Bachelor of Science (BSc) level, 10-20 students at the Master of Science (MSc) level and 5 candidates at doctor of phylosiophy Degree (PhD) level. Since its establishment in 2001 E.C., the department has consistently attracted B.Sc. students from diverse backgrounds. The graphs below provide a visual representation of the B.sc. student demographics and enrollment trends over the years, reflecting the department’s growth and development in terms of student intakand diversity. In addition, over 130 M.Sc. students and 3 PhD students were enrolled and completed their studies.
Qualified academic staffs of the program
The program has sufficient academic and technical staffs
Facilities and services
Laboratory set-up
The department has plant pathology, seed science and plant physiology laboratories, though they are partially equipped or not yet fully operational.
Partial overview of the laboratory setup of the department
Demonstration facilities
The Department of Plant Science has structured and equipped practical demonstration facilities designed to support both teaching and research activities. These include two hectare practical and demonstration site in the main campus, about 52 hectare research and demonstration farm in Enechifo site under center of excellence to demonstrate large scale farming and practice mechanizations, all of which provide valuable hands-on learning environments for students and researchers. Additionally, the department maintains a well-established landscape across the university grounds, green house across departments which serves as a model for tdevelopingpractical skills. For biodiversity research and training, we have a gene bank laboratory, which is used to conserve our resource which is environmentally safe. These facilities play a crucial role in enhancing practical knowledge and advancing research in Plant Science Department.
Horticulture research and community services
Research and community service activities
There are several completed and ongoing research and community service projects. Among these are crop protection, climate adaptation trails, soil fertility management, and crop variety development trials in agriculture are few. Some of the activities are illustrated below.
Services
In addition, the department’s staff also offer extension training and consultancy services on crop production and protection, tailored to the needs and requests of stakeholders following a needs assessment. Such as irrigation development and organic farming practices.
Messages
The department seeks partners to improve our laboratories, practical and research field facilities and working together in research and agriculture development activities.