Speaker: Dr. Kailash Pyakuryal, Vice Chancellor, Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Nepal

1. AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY UNIVERSITY (AFU)
Basis for National Economy through Agriculture and Forestry
Development in Nepal
Prof. Kailash N Pyakuryal
Vice-chancellor

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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.

8. • 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.

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. The IOF runs the following program at
present:
 Technical Certificate in Forestry
 Bachelors of Science in Forestry
 Master of Science in Forestry.

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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.

21. 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

22. 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

23. LOI Signing between AFU and MSU
Signing on LoI between MSU and AFU Senate meeting at glance

24. 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

25. 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