AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY UNIVERSITY (AFU)

Basis for National Economy through Agriculture and Forestry

Development in Nepal

Prof. Kailash N Pyakuryal

Vice-chancellor

Vision

To develop as a center of excellence, a world- class university engaged in teaching, research, training and services in the sustainable production and management of renewable natural resources dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of the Nepali people in general and Nepali farmers in particular.

MISSION

To transform the IAAS, Rampur, Agriculture

Campus, Rampur and Forestry Campus, Hetauda

into a full- fledged Agriculture and Forestry University

that produces world class human resources and

products, and technologies and information for

people’s empowerment and sustainable

development.

This will be achieved through excellent teaching,

basic and applied research and dedicated service in

agriculture, forestry and life sciences that will benefit

the farmers and the nation.

General background

Agriculture and forestry occupies center stage of Nepalese economy and deserve priority

Major source of livelihood for a vast majority of rural people

Direct and lasting impact on poverty reduction

Necessary condition for large scale increase in youth employment and reduction in poverty

Nominal or limited budget has been allotted for agriculture and forestry sector development by the government

Agriculture and forestry productivity are low among the lowest in the region

General background…

Increased productivity has the highest potential for reducing poverty and ensuring broad based growth

Productivity growth depends on improved and affordable access by farmers to technology, inputs and support services for which agriculture and forestry research and extension system need to be more effective, efficient, and responsive to the need of their clientele

Recently, Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS) has been developed with new vision incorporating new issues such as climate change, food security, out migration of youths, and decentralization, inclusion and governance

Severe scarcity of human resources in agriculture and forestry sector development

Status of human resources

1224 farming households to be served by one agriculture graduates (Altogether 3,500 working graduates in agriculture sector in Nepal)

250 agriculture graduates are being developed annually by different institutions (of which at least 30% drain to the rest of the world

Nepal needs 6000 – 7000 animal scientists/ veterinarians (though there are only 624 registered veterinarians)

About 70 veterinarians are being developed annually, that indicates that around 85 years will take to fulfill the need of veterinarians in Nepal

There are 1800 forestry graduates (country requires at least 18000 graduates)

HISTORY

Agriculture Education in Nepal

School of Agriculture under the Ministry of

Agriculture in 1957

Production of Lower level technical manpower: Junior

Technical Assistants (JTA).

Upgraded to College of Agriculture in 1968

Produced middle level technical manpower in

agriculture: Junior Technicians (JT)

Both the school and college were in Kathmandu

and were within the Ministry of Agriculture,

Government of Nepal.

• The College upgraded to the IAAS and brought under

the Tribhuvan University umbrella in 1972

• This Institute was relocated to Rampur Chitwan

within the premises of Panchayat Training Center, the

then a government establishment.

• The IAAS established two satellite agriculture

campuses: 1) Sunderbazar, Lamjung in 1975

2) Paklihawa, Rupandehi in 1978.

Academic Programs:

• I. Sc. Ag.(phased out since 2004)

• B.Sc. Ag. Ed. (1974) converted to B. Sc. Ag (1976)

• B.Sc. Animal Science (1987) later converted to B. VSc. and

A.H. (1991)

• Post Graduate (M.Sc./Ph.D.) since 1998

Other Institutions:

Himalayan College of Agricultural Sciences and

Technology (HICAST), (2000) Bhaktapur, Offers B.Sc.

Ag; B.V. Sc. &A.H. and M.Sc.

Nepal Polytechnic Institute, Bharatpur (2011). Offers B.

Sc. Ag; B. V. Sc. & A. H.

Gokuleswore Campus, (2010) offers B. Sc. Ag degree.

Mahendra Ratna Multiple Campus, Ilam, B. Sc.

Floriculture and Horticulture (2012); affiliated to TU

B. Sc. Tea Technology, Mechi Campus, Jhapa (2012);

affiliated to TU.

Forestry Education in Nepal

Forestry Institute in Singh Durbar got established in

1947 and training launched for Forest Guards.

Shifted to Suping, Bhimphedi in 1957; further moved

to Hetauda in 1965.

The Institute was run by the Department of Forests

until July 1972.and

Forestry Edu (cont)

Incorporated in Tribhuvan University System as the

Institute of Forestry (IoF) in the same year

The IOF moved to Pokhara in 1981 and Hetauda

remained as its satellite

The IOF offered Two Year Certificate Level Forestry

training at Hetauda until 1981

In 1995, a four year BScF was initiated.

The IOF runs the following program at present:

Technical Certificate in Forestry

Bachelors of Science in Forestry

Master of Science in Forestry.

Other Institutions offering Forestry Education in Nepal:

Kathmandu Forestry College (KAFCOL) in

Kathmandu in 2005 as a private college

It offers BSc Forestry and Diploma in Forestry

(Ranger) Programs

WEAKNESSES

Untill recently, before the AFU came into being:

The TU produced technical manpower in agriculture

and Forestry, without any link with the national main

stream.

No contribution in policy formulation, and Research

and Development.

Research and Development were not mandated to

the agriculture and forestry education system in

Nepal.

Shortage of technical manpower in these areas.

Long political instability.

Establishment of

Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU)

Date: June 17, 2010

Head office at Rampur, Chitwan

Liaison office at Minbhawan, Kathmandu

www.afu.edu.np

AFU Perspective/Model

Land Grant pattern in execution but not limited to the

traditional concept

Need to execute

Teaching

Research

Extension

– Strong agro-forestry industrial linkages

– National and international collaboration

– Dynamism in Academic program

Key constituents of AFU

Faculties/Colleges/Centers

Centre for Post Graduate Studies

Directorate of Research and Extension Education

Directorate of Planning

Directorate of Farms

Central Library

Directorate of Student Welfare

Regional Research and Training Centers

Directorate of Auxiliary Services

Directorate of Museum

Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Curriculum Development Center

Controller of Examination

Faculties under AFU

Faculty of Agriculture

Faculty of Animal Science, Veterinary Science and fisheries

Faculty of Forestry

Faculty of Food and Dairy Technology

Center for Biotechnology

Faculty of Basic Science and Agricultural Engineering

Activities under AFU to date

• Senate formed and conducted its first meeting on

September 20, 2012.

• Academic programs, curricula, by-laws and program

budget approved.

• Admission for B.Sc.Ag., B.V.Sc.& A.H. and B.Sc.

Forestry completed.

• Regular classes are being planned to start from

March 14, 2013. Academic Calendar being finalized.

• Faculty Deans, Program Directors and other officials

appointed.

Potential collaboration with institutions within the country

Nepal Agriculture Research Council

Department of Agriculture

Department of Livestock Service

Department of Forestry Research and Survey and

other private and public institutions

Association of Trade and Commerce

NGOs working in the areas of natural resource

International collaboration of AFU to date

LoI with Michigan State University, East Lansing,

USA in November 2012

LoI with Louisiana State University, USA

On the way to signing MoU with California State

University, USA and Arhus University, Denmark

MOU with MSU to be signed on March 7, 2013

LoI with Virginia Tech

LOI Signing between AFU and MSU

Signing on LoI between MSU and AFU Senate meeting at glance

Potential Areas for MSU Collaboration:

– Strategic Planning Workshop on AFU

– Collaboration on advanced degree training for

faculty development

– Curriculum development

– Collaborative research and strengthening of

research laboratory

– Online library resources

– Collaborative outreach/training

– Faculty/Student Exchange

Organizational Structure of AFU

Curriculum

Development Centre

AFU Senate

Vice Chancellor

Chancellor

Pro Chancellor

Service Commission

Academic Council

Research & Extension

Executive Council

Registrar

Directorate of

Continuing Education

University Museum

Central Library

Directorate of

Research &

Extension

Directorate of Farm

Faculty of

Agriculture

Post Graduate

Studies Centre

Faculty of Animal Sci. Veterinary Sci.

& Fisheries

Faculty of

Forestry

Center for

Biotechnology

Finance

General Admin

Personnel Admin

Examination Board

Directorate of Auxiliary

Directorate of Student

Welfare

Veterinary

Teaching Hospital

Appeal Court

Directorate of

Planning

Research and

Regional Training

centre