THE FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
HISTORY
At the inception of the University (February 2002), one of the mandates was to establish the Faculty of Agriculture. A team of experts from the University of Agriculture , Abeokuta (UNNAB) was invited to conduct a feasibility study and on-the-spot assessment of available facilities for the establishment of a Faculty of Agriculture. The team of consultants carried out their assignment between 30th June and 5th July 2002.
The report submitted by the team reasoned and concluded that the take-off of the Faculty of Agriculture in Lafia during 2002/2003 academic session (a session behind the take-off of the University) was feasible. The experts report highlighted the essential facilities and other supportive actions that will enhance the smooth take-off of the Faculty. The Faculty started in February 2003 (2002/2003) with students admitted in the permanent site of the universityi(keffi).But subsequently the faculty
was moved to lafia(Nasarawa state capital), as a tenant within the College of Agriculture Lafia (COAL).This took place in January 2004.
PHILOSOPHY AND VISION
The basic philosophy of the Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University is to significantly contribute
to the democratization and liberalization of scientific agriculture in Nigeria – that the fruits of scientific
agriculture will be made accessible and available to the rural farmer. That is, research activities in the Faculty would be
well designed and executed to address priority problems confronting Nigerian agriculture. The research scientists in the Faculty
are encouraged to work on research problems that have practical relevance to local farmers. Local farming communities in the state must be able to reap substantially from the fruits of agricultural research. This means that the communication gaps between researchers and the farmers must be bridged by having cordial and efficient
working relationship with the state ADP. The Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University intends to move beyond turning out
trained Agricultural Scientists but to have a major role in agriculture extension and engage in collaboration with the ADPs to assume responsibility for;
Training of extension staff,
Diagnostic survey,
On-farm adaptive research (OFAR),
Monthly Technology Review Meetings (MTRM),
Fortnightly Training Sessions and
Collaborate with the Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (AERLS).
The philosophy, mission and mandate of this Faculty is also to transform very rapidly,
farmers skills in agricultural production, harvesting, post-harvest technology, utilization and marketing. This would invariable lead to the enhancement of income
and the quality of life of the ordinary farmer especially within the catchments areas of the University.
The Undergraduate programme of the Faculty is designed in such that it would instill sound professional confidence in our graduates through the acquisition of practical skills both on students' instructional (demonstration) farms and from external and village-level internship experience.
MISSION
With its multidisciplinary approach, the undergraduate programme of the Faculty is aimed at the following:
Offer a broad-based training in agriculture with sufficient practical component that would make the graduates to be self-confident to engage in post-graduation self-employment rather than job-seekers.
Enhance students understanding of the role of agriculture (production, processing, storage, preservation and consumption) in transforming Nigeria into a food & fiber self-reliant and self-sufficient country.
Emphasize production-oriented practical skills in farm production and management through a combination of production-oriented courses, internships and village-based attachment to small-scale, medium-scale and large-scale farmers.
Ensure a solid foundation in the respective disciplines in the academic departments.
Transform the students at the end of their graduation into truly learned members of the 21st
century. And to pre-occupy our society with graduates of sound mental attitude and rational minds capable of making enquiries on issues that affect our corporate existence as a nation.
The basic academic unit of a Faculty will be mission-oriented, not discipline biased and will serve as a coordinating unit to give expression to the Faculty's unified curriculum of teaching, research and extension.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
As recommended by the consultants from the University of Agriculture Abeokuta (UNAAB), the Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University will give
expression to its research and extension activities through its Centre for Agricultural Research, Extension and Consultancy (CAREC). This structural outfit will ensure at all times the relevance and co-ordination of the Faculty's research and development activities. CAREC will have a composition that will ensure relevance to state and national needs as determined by the policy makers, producers and consumers. CAREC will be composed of representative of the Vice-Chancellor, the Dean of Agriculture, the State Ministry of Education, State Ministry of Agriculture, representative of Farmers's Organization and the State ADP.
This administrative arrangement and structural machinery will ensure a Research capacity building with in-built responses to State needs as defined by the Ministry of Agriculture from time to time. The prioritized relevance of research activities in the Faculty should be able to attract support of both organized private and public sector in the state. To accelerate the generation of R & D results in the Faculty.
CAREC in the Faculty was established immediately and made to function so that it could effectively coordinate marketable research efforts and bring such to public domain for commercialization.
The State Government, as the proprietor, and other stakeholders created an enabling environment to allow research development to thrive. Adequate funds are made available for teaching and
research in the Faculty. The Faculty has working collaborations with institutions that have common objectives for the utilization of pooled resources and facilities.
The faculty should be empowered to have effective working collaboration with industries and the private sector in general. The faculty could study and research into better alternatives of industrial processes.
Owing to the specialized nature of agricultural research, the reward system for researchers in the faculty takes into consideration the practical relevance of research's result to the farming communities and industries.
FARMS,GARDENS AND MUSEUMS
Three categories of farms are to be developed: commercial, research and students (industrial) farms. These are additional to horticulture garden, botanical garden and crop museum. Students are to train on the management of small and large-scale commercial farmers which are profit-oriented. The research farm is the Experimental station where the staff develop facilities for practical training.
Students farms are part of the teaching farm which serve the purpose of expanding the practical content of the training offered to students. The students farms may also serve as avenue for SIWES training for both the students in the Faculty and others
from outside.
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