Land and Farms

The module is organized into four sections. Unit 1 introduces the basic concepts and analytical frameworks for understanding a farm and its operations, including its biophysical, technical, and economic determinants. Unit 2 delves deeper into the decision-making processes that underlie the establishment and management of cropping systems on the farm. The final two units focus on the regional scale. Module 3 focuses on representing the diversity of cropping systems and farms, and its application to the analysis of the joint dynamics of agricultural land use and water resources within a region. Module 4 addresses the issue of coordinating technical choices among farms within a region, with an application to watershed management.

The objectives of this module are to provide students with frameworks for understanding and analyzing 1) the decision-making processes underlying agricultural practices (farming systems) at the farm level, and 2) the diversity of agricultural systems and farms at the regional level. These analytical frameworks are geared toward assessing pressures on water resources (quantity and quality), evaluating available options, and supporting individual or collective decision-making regarding changes in practices.

Required prerequisites*:

EU Water and Crop Production

Recommended prerequisites*:

knowledge of the basic concepts of agronomy: cropping systems, production schedules, and production functions

Assessment: Continuous, Comprehensive Assessment

Review:

Ongoing assessment:

In-class exam, covering both agronomic and economic perspectives

Course Outline:

Management, Farming, Production System, Irrigation, Land Use, Farming Practices