Course Title

Pest & Disease Management: Hands-On Snail & Bee Farming Practices

Course Overview

This course is designed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in snail and bee farming, specifically focusing on pest and disease management. By engaging in hands-on activities and real-world projects, learners will develop the skills necessary to manage and mitigate risks associated with pests and diseases effectively. The course emphasizes experiential learning through guided exercises, practical demonstrations, and reflective practices, ensuring that learners can apply their knowledge in real-world farming scenarios.

Prerequisites

Learners should have a foundational understanding of basic snail and bee farming practices, including species identification, habitat requirements, and general farm management principles, which can be acquired from the introductory Acquire course on snail and bee farming.

Learning Objectives

• Apply pest and disease management strategies in snail and bee farming.
• Demonstrate effective monitoring and control measures for common pests and diseases.
• Execute comprehensive farm assessments to identify potential risks.
• Build sustainable and resilient farming practices that minimize pest and disease impacts.
• Design integrated pest management plans tailored to specific farm conditions.

Target Audience

This course is intended for aspiring and existing snail and bee farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs, and professionals in the agribusiness sector, particularly those operating in African and Nigerian contexts.

Modules & Lessons

Module 1: Introduction to Pest and Disease Management

• Concept Refresher: Overview of common pests and diseases in snail and bee farming.
• Practical Demonstration: Identification techniques for pests and diseases using visual aids.
• Guided Exercise: Conduct a virtual farm inspection to identify potential pest hotspots.
• Self-Check Quiz: (5 questions) Identify typical signs of pest infestations in snail farms.
• Reflection Task: Share insights on how pest identification can improve farm productivity.

Module 2: Monitoring and Early Detection

• Concept Refresher: Importance of regular monitoring in pest management.
• Practical Demonstration: Setting up and using monitoring tools and traps.
• Guided Exercise: Create a monitoring schedule for a hypothetical bee farm.
• Self-Check Quiz: (6 questions) Evaluate different monitoring methods for efficiency.
• Reflection Task: Discuss the benefits of early pest detection on social media platforms.

Module 3: Control Measures and Techniques

• Concept Refresher: Biological, chemical, and cultural control methods.
• Practical Demonstration: Implementing integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.
• Guided Exercise: Design a control strategy for a specific pest scenario.
• Self-Check Quiz: (7 questions) Match control methods to specific pest challenges.
• Reflection Task: Write a blog post about an IPM success story in an African SME.

Module 4: Farm Resilience and Sustainability

• Concept Refresher: Building resilience through sustainable practices.
• Practical Demonstration: Strengthening farm infrastructure against pests.
• Guided Exercise: Develop a sustainability plan for a small-scale bee farm.
• Self-Check Quiz: (5 questions) Analyze the impact of sustainable practices on pest reduction.
• Reflection Task: Create a video presentation about sustainable pest management strategies.

Project Work

Capstone Project: Develop a comprehensive pest and disease management plan for a real or hypothetical snail or bee farm in Nigeria, incorporating local agricultural practices and challenges. Deliverables include a written report, a pest monitoring schedule, and an IPM strategy. Evaluation criteria will focus on practicality, innovation, and sustainability.

Assignment Guidelines

Learners will be provided with a business canvas template to structure their pest management plans, including sections for risk assessment, monitoring strategies, and control measures.

Instructor Feedback Tips

• Use AI feedback tools to evaluate project submissions for completeness and practicality.
• Encourage peer reviews and reflections on personal learning experiences.

Key Takeaways

Each module concludes with a key takeaway, summarizing the practical applications and skills acquired, such as the importance of early pest detection and the impact of sustainable practices on farm productivity.

References & Learning Materials

1. YouTube: “Integrated Pest Management in Africa” – a video resource on sustainable farming.
2. Open Data: “Pest and Disease Management Toolkit” from the African Agricultural Technology Foundation.
3. Toolkit: “Sustainable Farming Practices Guide” from the Nigerian Ministry of Agriculture.

Suggested Next Course

“Commercialize Your Snail & Bee Farming: From Practice to Profit” – a course focusing on scaling and commercializing farming practices for profitability.