Zambia College of Agriculture - Mpika

 

P.O. Box 450143

MPIKA

Telephone: 

Principal       +260 972 106 913

                    +260 955 370 764

Registrar      +260 965 597 977

                   +260 954 946 766

 

Physical Location

Zambia College of Agriculture – Mpika is located in Mpika District in the Muchinga Province of Zambia. The junction into the college is 20 kilometres north of Mpika from Mpika Post Office along the Great North Road.It is at an elevation of 1 400 m above sea level and on 11⁰42’27.21’ S latitude and 31⁰27’26.06”E longitude, the college administrative centre is two kilometres off the Great North Road. The pleasant and quiet rural setting of the training institution is conducive for agriculture and learning. 

Vision

The vision of the college is to meet aspirations of society for distinction in agricultural training, research and service delivery.

Mission

The mission of the college is to produce the critical mass of human resources required for sustainable agricultural development.

Motto

‘Training for food security and environmental sustainability’ 

Training Programmes

The college runs two training programmes, namely the two-year Certificate in General Agriculture and three-year Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture. The diploma programme has two modes of training, namely full time and distance learning. The college runs a semester system. Training in general agriculture covers subject modules in Basic Sciences, Crop and Animal Production, Agricultural Engineering, Farm Management and Rural Development. Training in sustainable agriculture also covers the above modules. But, in addition emphasis is placed on environmental sustainability.

Programme Structures
Certificate in General Agriculture

                                                    YEAR 1(ONE)

Semester I	Semester II
Course Name	Course Name
Botany	Agricultural Extension
Chemistry	Farm Management & Agricultural Economics
Mathematics & Statistics	Horticulture
Physics	Introduction to Crop & Soil Science
Rural Sociology & Computers	Poultry & Pig Production & Aquaculture
Zoology	Survey

                                         

                                                         YEAR TWO (2)

Semester I	Semester II
Course Name	Course Name
Animal Health	Beef & Dairy Production
Farm Management II	Home Economics
Farm Power & Workshop Technology	Soil & Water Conservation
Farm Structures & Postharvest Technology	Irrigation
Field Crop Production	Seed Science & Technology
Pastures & Animal Nutrition	Sheep, Goats & Rabbit Production
Plant Protection	Agroforestry

 

 

 Diploma Programme Structure

 

                                                   YEAR ONE (1)

Semester 1		Semester 2
Code	Course Name	Code	Course Name
SA 111	Biology	SA 121	Animal Science
SA 112	Chemistry	SA 122	Crop Science
SA 113	Communication Skills	SA 123	Farm Power & Structures
SA 114	Ecology	SA 124	Forestry Science
SA 115	Mathematics & Statistics	SA 125	Human Sociology
SA 116	Physics	SA 126	Soil Science

                                                                               

                                                                       YEAR TWO (2)

Semester 1		Semester 2
Code	Course Name	Code	Course Name
SA 211	Agroforestry Systems & Technologies	SA 221	Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation
SA 212	Field Crop Production	SA 222	Economics
SA 213	Horticulture	SA 223	Integrated Water resources Management
SA 214	Research Methods	SA 224	Irrigation
SA 215	Ruminant Production	SA 225	Integrated Land Use Planning
SA 216	Soil & Water Conservation	SA 226	Non-ruminant Production
SA 210	Industrial Attachment	SA 227	Plantation Crop Production

 

                                                   YEAR THREE (3)

Semester 1		Semester 2
Code	Course Name	Code	Course Name
SA 311	Business Management	SA 321	Biodiversity Conservation
SA 312	Extension	SA 322	Fisheries & Aquaculture
SA 313	Farm Management	SA 323	Governance
SA 314	Plant Breeding & Seed Science	SA 324	Human Nutrition & Health
SA 315	Rangeland & Wildlife Management	SA 325	Project Management
SA 316	Sustainable Agricultural Systems	SA 310	Special Project
SA 310	Special Project

 

 Land

Total hectarage under the college is 2 683 hectares (ha). The land is bound in the east and north by Lufune River, in the west by Mwateshi River and in the South by Lwitikila River. Two thousand one hundred and two hectares are arable. Fifty percent of the non-arable land is still suitable for winter grazing and 469.2 ha for summer grazing. The abundant surface water resources are under-utilised. 

The Climate

The college falls within agro-ecological Region III, the high rainfall area, of Zambia. Average annual rainfall exceeds 1 200 mm. The rainfall is unimodal and the rain season extends between October and May. In recent times the highest recorded temperature was 37 Celsius. In July night temperatures can drop down to 8 Celsius.

Infrastructure

Roads

The network of roads linking units in the college is approximately 20 kilometres.

Electricity

The college is connected to the national hydro-electric grid.

Water and Sewerage System

The college pumps water from the Mwateshi Stream to the treatment plant at the gate from where the water is fed back to all sections of the college by gravity. Two boreholes compliment supply from the stream.

Buildings

The portfolio of buildings in the college includes 24 offices, six classrooms and one new and modern lecture theatre, staff houses and four sets of student hostels; three laboratories; one library; one each of plumbing, carpentry and metal workshops; a cold and guard room; a pump house; a recreation hall; a kitchen and dining hall. Buildings are reasonably furnished, equipped and available to the public for hire during recess.

Administration Block

The Administration Block houses offices of the Principal, Vice Principal, Registrar, Executive Officer, the Registry, Accounts, Telephone Operator, Kitchen and two ablutions.

Training Office Block 

The Training Office Block contains 16 offices for training, including four for training heads of departments, eight for senior training officers, seven for training officers, four for senior practical instructors, eight for practical instructors, the staff room, duplicating room, strong room, a drivers’ room and an ablution. 

Lecture Rooms

The college has eight separate lecture venues with a combined sitting capacity of 550.

Student Welfare
Students are organised into a union in order to foster harmonious co-existence with staff. Sumptuous meals are served in the college’s dining hall.

Admission Requirements
The minimum qualification for admission into training is a full Grade 12 Certificate with at least a credit in English, Mathematics, and one science for the Certificate in General Agriculture and  in two sciences for the Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture.

Method of Application
Applicants must obtain application forms at a non-refundable fee from the college or its agents, fill the forms and submit the filled forms to the college before the Selection Committee sits to consider them between May and June. Shortlisted candidates are invited for interviews and copies of their academic qualifications submitted to the Examinations Council of Zambia for verification. For applications for admission to the diploma programme, names of selected candidates are then submitted to the Copperbelt University for approval. After names have been approved, letters of offer of admission are sent by the Principal to the selected candidates.

 Applications Forms
Application forms are available for sale throughout the year and prospective students may fill and submit them at any time.

    Application Form for Admission - Certificate In General Agriculture
      
    Application Form for Admission - Diploma