Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Overview

The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (DABE) is one of the departments in the School of Technology, Njala University. It focuses on the application of engineering solutions to agricultural production and development options. Through teaching and research, students are trained in the design, development and promotion of biosystems for sustainable food production, processing and preservation. DABE currently has two laboratories and an eight-hectare land for handy field research.

Mission

We build human capacity, knowledge and skills for the integrated use of engineering and technology in agricultural and bio-systems processes.

Vision

We want to become a leading and prominent training base in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering for the transformation of Sierra Leone from rainfed to irrigated, manual to mechanical and food-deficient to food-abundant society.

Units in the department

Academic programs are at the heart of DABE and it is fully committed to student learning and career success. DABE comprises three (3) academic units, viz.:

1. Soil & Water Engineering

Soil, together with water, provides the basis for life on earth. The unit is concerned with the wise use of soil and water for the provision of enough food for future generations. Our staff in this unit are focused on Irrigation, Water Resources Management, Land development, Erosion and Water Quality studies. This unit covers the following courses: Irrigation, Hydrology, Land development, Inland Valley Swamp Development, Soil mechanics, Fluid mechanics, Soil conservation etc.

Laboratory facility and research

The laboratory is equipped with a Liquid Water Isotope Analyser, capable of assessing stable isotopes of water for hydrological studies. The unit also has various surveying equipment including a Total Station, a Laser level and other requisite Surveying accessories

Current researches include:

• The development and performance assessment of a technology for research on soil erosion; Phase I: Adaptation of the tipping bucket rain gauge,
• The development and performance assessment of a mobile sprinkler irrigator,
• Rainwater Harvesting for Supplementary Irrigation,
• Groundwater Assessment using Stable Isotopes etc

2. Postharvest Technology

Postharvest activities have gained importance in sub-Saharan Africa. Increases in crop production have not been matched by technical improvements in post-production practices. Through teaching and research, the aim of this unit is to stimulate agricultural production by providing ways of preventing postharvest losses and adding value to agricultural products.

The courses taught in this unit include Crop processing & Storage, Engineering properties of biological materials, Design of Agricultural and Food Processing Machines etc.

Laboratory facility and research

The Postharvest Food and Bioprocess Engineering Laboratory has state-of-the-art equipment that includes the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography system

Current research activities have focused on:

• Bio-fortification in food crop production
• Optimizing processing techniques for producing germinated rice and soybean food products

3.Farm Machinery & Mechanization

The mission of this unit is to improve capacity in the use of farm machinery and appropriate mechanization options for farmers.

Courses taught include Bio-production Machinery, Farm Mechanics and Workshop Technology, Farm Power and Machinery etc.

Ancillary Units

These include:

• The mechanical workshop unit which comprises a machine shop and a tractor workshop
• The carpentry and farm building unit

Programs

Through the various units, DABE offers a total of two (2) sub-degree, two (2) degree and four (4) post-graduate degree programs. The programs at DABE are designed for supervisory and managerial roles in agriculture or the related enterprises, including programs in:

• Higher Diploma in Farm Mechanization
• Higher Diploma in Land & Water Management
• Post-graduate Diploma in Postharvest Technology
• BSc in Agricultural Engineering (Honors)
• BSc in Agricultural Engineering (General)
• MSc in Postharvest Technology
• MSc in Soil & Water Engineering
• PhD in Agricultural Engineering

Staff Member