
Introduction
Department of Agricultural Sciences (DAS) is making earnest efforts aiming at supplementing, supporting and re-enforcing extension services and offering agriculture related programs at different levels. Agriculture progress in most developing countries has mainly involved an increase in the production of staple crops, the introduction of industrial crops and development of livestock production. One cannot deny the importance of livestock because it produces a huge quantity of food, such as beef, mutton, poultry meat, milk, yogurt and lot of other milk, and animal byproducts. Millions of acres are still being cultivated with the help of farm animals in this mechanized era. At present, higher education in agriculture is imparted by four formal agricultural universities in Pakistan, which are not catering in-service personnel. The AIOU conducted a survey to get an idea about the higher education in Livestock Management Agricultural Extension, Forestry Extension and Rural Development and received a positive response from candidates who could not improve their qualification from formal Agricultural Universities for one or other reason and are now working in different governmental departments and NGOs. DAS has decided to offer MSc (Hons) Rural Development through distance teaching system, especially for those who could not enhance their qualification through formal system.
Objectives
To help literate farmers and rural communities generally to improve their everyday farming operations and basic skills; to improve the level of knowledge and skills of field extension staff by drawing on the latest research findings and expertise at the national and international levels; to help in adoption and diffusion of improved technology among the farming population. To promote human resource development in agriculture and its related fields. Supplementing, supporting and reinforcing extension services and offering agriculture related programs at different levels.
Academic Facilities
Library Internet.
programmes
Agricultural Courses
MSc Forestry Extension
MSc (Hons) Agricultural Extension
PhD in Agricultural Extension
MSc (Hons) Livestock Management
MSc (Hons) Rural Development
Future Plans
PhD Forestry Extension, PGD in Sustainable Agriculture.
Contact Details
Agricultural Sciences
Faculty & Staff Members