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Field of Agriculture

Department of Agricultural Economics

The Department of Agricultural Economics at Bensa Daye Campus of Hawassa University was established in 2014 to equip professionals with economic principles and analytical skills that optimize resource allocation, strengthen agricultural value chains, promote sustainable practices, and contribute to food security and rural prosperity in Ethiopia.

The department is committed to Academic Excellence, Impactful Research, and Community Engagement as well as Technology Transfer for Sustainable Development. Agricultural Economics Department delivers degree programs in both regular and weekend modalities. Currently, the department has 163 Regular and 48 Weekend actively enrolled students and it has graduated over 74 students in 2024 and 2025 GC.

The Department has five active young staff members that are motivated, and fully dedicated professionals with MSc/MA qualifications in Agricultural Economics, Natural Resources Economics and Policy, and Development Economics. Its strength is reflected in the fact that all graduating students successfully pass the Exit Examination consecutively. In addition, its staffs are currently conducting research funded by University’s Early Career Research Grant – which strengthens the department’s research capacity and visibility.

The department offers a four-year training program that strengthens theoretical knowledge and practical skills of the students to prepare them for their professional careers. Students are required to take 152 credit hours or 255 ECTS, completing 57 courses delivered through lectures, exercises, assignments, project work, field visits, term papers, and research activities.

All students are required to abide by the University’s Academic Legislation and code of conduct. Academic dishonesty—including cheating, fabrication, and plagiarism—is strictly prohibited and handled according to appropriate rules of the University. Class activities vary daily and include lectures, discussions, and interactive sessions. Students are expected to actively participate.

Students admitted from secondary schools must complete 152 credit hours or 255 ECTS by taking 57 courses and must obtain a CGPA of at least 2.00 with no “F” grade in any course.

Employability of Graduates

The graduates of Agricultural Economics are highly competent in the labor market. Approximately 75% of the graduates from 2024 are employed in government institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private sector institutions. This high employability rate demonstrates the relevance, quality, and practical orientation of department’s training program.

Graduate Competencies

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are expected to acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes that enable them to:

  • Participate in the design, implementation, and evaluation of agricultural development projects;
  • Apply efficient resource utilization theories and practices for sustainable agricultural development;
  • Conduct feasibility studies and provide advice to investors, financial institutions, and the agriculture and allied sectors;
  • Support researchers and policymakers in agricultural production, productivity, marketing, and sustainable natural resource management;
  • Establish and operate their own businesses;
  • Train and advice small-scale farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs;
  • Serve as planners in agricultural offices;
  • Manage small-scale farms and agricultural enterprises;
  •  Work as extension team members/leaders, market experts, and loan officers;
  • Assist teaching in higher learning institutions and technical and vocational training centers.  
Research Activities

Over the past three years, the staff members of Agricultural Economics have actively participated in various research calls and have won two disciplinary research projects all conducted in accordance with proper research ethics. Currently, the department is also conducting early career grant research enhancing its contribution to knowledge generation and problem-solving.

Department of Agribusiness and Value Chain Management

The department of Agribusiness and Value Chain Management (ABVM) at Hawassa University Bensa Daye Campus is dedicated to fostering the next generation of agricultural innovators and leaders. Established in 2019 G.C/2011 E.C/, the department is committed in producing graduates specifically capacitated in the following key focus areas:

KEY FOCUS AREAS:

Agribusiness development
  • Supports farmers, processors, traders, and retailers in adopting business-oriented practices.
  • Promotes entrepreneurship, access to finance, and market-driven production.
  • Integrates technology (e.g., digital tools) to boost productivity.

Value chain analysis and optimization
  • Maps and analyzes each stage of the agricultural value chain (inputs, production, processing, distribution, and retails, recycling and etc.).
  • Identifying value chain challenges (e.g., post-harvest losses, weak infrastructure) and solutions (e.g., cold storage, block chain traceability).

Market Access and Trade

  • Facilitates connections between producers and domestic as well as global markets.
  • Helps farmers meet quality standards (e.g., organic certifications) and comply with regulations.

Sustainability and Resilience

  • Promotes climate-smart practices, resource efficiency, and circular economy models.
  • Addresses challenges like climate change, soil degradation, and water scarcity.

Policy and Institutional Support

  • Advocates for policies that improve agricultural trade, subsidies, and infrastructure.
  • Strengthens institutions (e.g., cooperatives, farmer groups) for collective bargaining.

Academic Programs:

A four-year academic period is required to acquire a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Agribusiness and Value Chain Management in Hawassa University Bensa Daye Campus. Students will join the program after effectively completing first year common courses in main campus of the University.


The department offers theoretical knowledge and practical skills to qualify the competence of students in the profession. Students are required to take a total of 158 credit hours or 250 ECTS.

Students who have successfully completed graduation requirements can earn the following degree: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Agribusiness and Value Chain Management. Its Amharic version is “የሳይንስ ባችለር ዲግሪ በግብርና ቢዝነስ እና እሴት ሰንሰለት አስተዳደር”


The department offers a comprehensive range of programs, including: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Agribusiness and Value Chain Management: This full-time program provides a solid foundation in agribusiness principles, value chain management, marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship. The department offers both regular and weekend options for this program, catering to diverse student needs.

Future Programs: 

The department is actively expanding its modalities, with plans to launch winter and evening programs for BSc degree students offering even greater flexibility for working professionals. Furthermore, the department also plans to launch MSc Program very soon.


Academic mission of the department

Its core mission is to equip graduates with the knowledge, skills, and problem-solving abilities needed to drive the agricultural commercialization and value addition of the country’s agricultural sector.

Additionally, the department is commissioned to strengthen linkages between stakeholders in the agricultural value chain from farm to fork. While addressing economic, social, and environmental challenges. Currently the number of students enrolled in the department are 87 while ABVM has managed to graduate 88 students since its commencement. 


Job opportunities

The graduates of ABVM department are uniquely positioned to contribute across sectors critical to national development: Banks and Financial Institutions, NGOs and Development Organizations, Government and Policy Roles (e.g., Ministry of Agriculture, ATA), Private Sector and Agribusiness, International Organizations (e.g., FAO, IFAD, SNV), Academic and Research Institutions (e.g. and University and Research Center), Cooperatives and PPPs, Entrepreneurship/The Frontier of Innovation. For visionary graduates, the Agri-tech startup ecosystem, consultancy firms, and SME ventures offer fertile ground to pioneer solutions from block chain traceability to circular economy models. Your entrepreneurial spirit will redefine Ethiopia's Agri-sector.

Staffs’ statistics

the department has a total of 10 academic staffs out of which eight of them are on duty while the remaining two are on the study leave for their PhD degree.

Previous efforts our department made for the success of our graduates

  • Effective teaching, mentoring/advising, tracer studies
  • 100% exit exam pass.

Participation of academic staff in research activities

  • Our staffs successfully executed three disciplinary research project
  • The staff also contributed/ participated in 10 scientific publications  

Department of  Plant Science

Established in 2011 E.C alongside six others department, the department of Plant Science at Daye Campus of Hawassa University works as center for academic excellence and scientific eminence.

The mission of plant science department is to provide quality education and produce well equipped graduates; and getting engaged in societal problem solving research work and community services. In last seven years; the staff of the department managed to conduct more than ten problem solving research works and community services that benefitted many participants. Plant Science department offer a degree program in Plant Science available in both regular and weekend modalities to accommodate the need of our students.  The department is home to about 124 actively enrolled both regular and weekend students. Over 86 students have graduated in the last three years. A recent tracer study indicates that 90 percent graduates have successfully secured employment in government and non-government organization offices. Our strength lies on our twelve committed academic staff, holding the rank of lecturer while seven are currently on study leave for their PhD studies while the remaining five are actively duty are deeply engaged in the teaching and learning process. My department is known for the creativity, produces scientific expertise, enhances productivity and involved on active participation in critical research.

The department is strongly focused on supporting student’s success and ensuring educational quality. This dedication was formally recognized in 2015 E.C academic year  the competition was done at department level in a campus and the plant science department was ranked in second for its contribution of quality education, handling students, providing quality service and engaged on problem solving research and community service and overall department performance.

Looking forward our plan is to continue advancing our core pillar: delivering quality education, actively participating on problem solving research and community service based on gap identified and  deliver quality and effectual service for the students.