MAGB106 - IFE

MAGB106
Rural Skills

ECTS Value: 5 ECTS

Contact Hours: 25

Self Study Hours: 90

Assessment Hours: 10

Overall Objectives and Outcomes

This unit is designed to allow the candidate to explore the diverse nature of the agribusiness industry, explore some of the opportunities within the sector, and develop some of the basic rural skills necessary to work in these disciplines. This unit introduces a diverse array of agribusiness topics in farm management, rural development, arboriculture, and health and safety and permits the student to develop practical rural skills through their training/work experience/activities carried out in an agribusiness-relevant sector.

By the end of this programme, participants should be able to:

Competences

a. Identify good practices for tree establishment, care and management;
b. Differentiate between fertilisation strategies for different trees;
c. Develop strategies for managing risks and farm management;
d. Describe the basic elements of a set of farm business accounts;
e. Identify health and safety concerns and the appropriate actions.

Knowledge

a. Describe how to carry out tree pruning methods;
b. Identify the main legal and policy instruments that have implications for tree pruning;
c. Identify market forces influencing the management of agribusinesses;
d. Describe how the farm environment can be managed sustainably;
e. Describe opportunities for farm diversification;
f. Identify health and safety hazards and risks in an agricultural setting.

Skills

a. Implement practices required for tree establishment and management within a landscape;
b. Monitor tree health and status;
c. Assess opportunities for farm diversification including through non-farming activities;
d. Manage risks and develop effective farm management strategies based on an analysis of the market and environmental factors and rural development opportunities;
e. Implement a risk assessment in an agricultural setting.

Assessment Methods

This programme adopts continuous and summative methods of assessment including assignments, online tasks, reflective journals, projects and video presentations. For further details, kindly refer to the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Policy and Procedures.

Suggested Readings

Core Reading List

1. ILO. 2011. Safety and Health in Agriculture. International Labour Office. Geneva. [Online]. Available at: http://www.ilo.org/safework/info/standards-and-instruments/codes/WCMS_161135/lang–en/index.htm. [Accessed 12/03/2018]
2. EC. 2011. Protecting health and safety of workers in agriculture, livestock farming, horticulture and forestry. Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. European Commission. [Online]. Available at: https://osha.europa.eu/en/tools-and-publications/publications/protectinghealth-and-safety-workers-agriculture-livestock/view. [Accessed 12/03/2018]
3. James, N.D.G. 1997. The Arboriculturist’s Companion: A Guide to the Care of Trees. Blackwell, Oxford. Nuthall, P.L. 2016.
4. Farm business management: the fundamentals of good practice. Boston, MA: CAB International
5. Calleja E.J. 2018. Trees and Shrubs of the Maltese Islands and their habitats.
6. Brickell, C. & Joyce, D. 2017. Royal Horticultural Society Pruning & Training. Royal Horticultural Society. London.

Supplementary Reading List

1. Joyce, D. 2001. Pruning and training plants: the complete guide. Octopus Publishing Group Ltd. London.