Introduction to the Faculty of Plant Sciences
بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم
Afghanistan contributes dominantly to the agricultural and livestock sectors and has favorable climatic conditions for the production of various valuable crop families in the southern zone. Kandahar is known as a host of different crops and a caster of production, including cereal, commercial fruits, and vegetables, and exports huge amounts of agricultural products to domestic and international markets. Although recently export commodity levels have been lower in Kandahar, pomegranate, grapes, fig, almond, cumin, and other products play a significant role in sustaining Afghani currency against foreign currencies. It is worth mentioning that the agriculture sector in Afghanistan supports the livelihoods of nearly three-quarters of the total population and contributes nearly 28% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Thus, agriculture's growth is vital for driving the country’s economy and ensuring food security. To further promote the agriculture and livestock sectors in Afghanistan, the government of Afghanistan established Afghanistan National Agricultural Sciences and Technology University (ANASTU) in 2013.
The plant science faculty was established on January 9, 2013, mandated under the 372/365 volume number and included in the academic formation of ANASTU. The Plant Science faculty was officially authorized by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) to promote undergraduate and postgraduate programs in eight departments. including Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Protection, plant Biotechnology, Agriculture Engineering, Forest and Natural Resources, and Plant Genetics and Plant Breeding. To promote postgraduate studies, Plant Science faculty enrolled 21 students in February 2014 for master degree program as a 1th batch in the field of agronomy were successfully graduated in 2016 under a joint degree program between ANASTU and the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI). promoting postgraduate program, department of Agronomy enrolled 19 students as the 2nd batch, 20 students as the 3rd batch in the field of Agronomy, and were successfully graduated. Recently, 10 master students from the 4th batch of Agronomy are pursuing their studies and research at ANASTU.
In order to get official approval from the MoHE, the authorized responsibility has improved. The Department of Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Protection at postgraduate level in Faculty of Plant Science on May 3, 2018 (mandated under 372/365). In 2018, based on possibilities, by the order of MoHE, master students were enrolled in three departments of agriculture, horticulture, and plant protection at this university. So 17 and 9 students in horticulture and plant protection were enlisted into master's program through the entrance exam, respectively.
Some Lecturers of the faculty are engaged in higher education inside and outside the country in order to obtain masters (M.Sc) and doctorate degrees (Ph.D) and to increase their educational capacity. Five and four lecturers have returned to their duties in different departments at the M.Sc and Ph.D levels respectively, and the chain is going on. Based on the possibilities during the year 2024, according to the faculty strategic plan and covenant with IARI University of India, new students will be enrolled in the mentioned departments.
A competent delegation from the Ministry of Higher Education visited ANASTU University, and based on strategy, all the academic staff and apparatuses of the agricultural faculty and research farm of Kandahar University were integrated and pooled with ANASTU within faculties of plant science, animal sciences, and agricultural economics and extension. All the professors and lecturers were settled in the relevant departments, according to the last academic certificate, with the help of the delegated response person, and the decision was noted down in ANASTU academic council registration notepad (Protocol #. 11–4/12/1399).
According to the 10-year plan of ANASTU University and the MoHE decision, including Indian University (IARI), the three major branches of the Kandahar Agricultural Faculty (Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Protection) combined with similar departments of the Plant Science Faculty. Additionally, five other departments (Soil Science and Irrigation, Forestry and Natural Resources, Biotechnology, Genetics and Plant Breeding, and Agricultural Engineering) have been established, and the process of activation has been completed. It is worth mentioning that currently the Faculty of Plant Science has 44 lecturers/professors, 31 students in postgraduate programs, and 155 students in various departments of undergraduate programs.
Vision
Faculty of Plant Science will be a major center for the training of graduate and post-graduate technical personnel and capacities in the field of production of plant products with high quantity and quality, improvement of plant breeds, and modernization of traditional agricultural affairs.
Mission
Faculty of Plant Science is struggling through it’s professional scientist to create productive academic, research and learning atmosphere with advance technology which will lead to the economic empowerment of country's farmers.
Goals
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• Training professional scientists as bachelors, master's and doctorate levels.
• Improvement of plant production quality and quantity.
• Introduction and implementation of new technologies and agriculture practices to obtain maximum benefits from unite of area.
• Research on traditional and improved crops and extension of result.
• Establishing relations with national, regional and foreign educational and research institutions, in order to share scientific and research achievements.
• To train academic personnel at a high level who remain faithful to Islamic sanctities and Afghan culture and become the reason for the development of the country's agricultural sector in order to achieve the above main objectives.
Values
- Patriotism with a holy and Islamic spirit.
- Standard and high quality education.
- Research enrichment.
- Sound administration and effective leadership.
- Establish academic freedom.
- Accountability.
- Transparency in work and prevention of corruption.
- Avoiding any form of discrimination.
Departments
- Agronomy Department
- Horticulture Department
- Plant Protection Department
- Biotechnology Department
- Soil Science & Irrigation Department
- Genetics and Plant Breeding Department
- Forestry and Natural Resources Department
- Agricultural Engineering Department
Committees
1. Academic council
2. Committee on Integration of Postgraduate Programs
3. Broadcasting Committee
4. Educational Curriculum Monitoring and Evaluation Committee
5. Research, Translation, and Compilation Committee
6. Quality Assurance Committee
7. Examination Committee
8. Management and Discipline Committee
9. Student council
10. E-Learning Committee
11. Strategic Planning Committee
12. Environment Protection and Greenery Committee
13. Cultural Affairs Committee
Strategic Plan
Action Plan
The action and work plan of 2023 has been prepared in the light of five-year strategic plan and the following strategic goals and other parts are included in it:
• Structural and technical aspects
• Academic and capacity building section
• The public sector of scientific research, innovation and critical thinking.
• Achieving quality assurance
• Achieving financial independence
• Rule governance and elimination of corruption
• Faculty's effectiveness in society
• Strengthening relationships
• Broadcasting and cultural parts
• Attraction and attraction of donations
Action Report
• All administrative and academic tasks are performed according to schedule.
• Four of the faculty members completed their doctoral degrees and returned to the university.
• Documents were prepared given on 371 quality improvement indicators and shared with the Quality Improvement Department.
• Enrollment exam has been passed in the academic cadres of Helmand University and Zabul Uruzgan and Dicondy Higher Education Institutes.
• Participation in plant science faculty academic staff in Shariat Zhagh Radio program.
• Active participation by faculty and staff in seminars and courses of invitation and guidance has been taken at the university.
• Two of academic staff have been introduced to Pakistan for a short-term program.
• After preparing Assessment Reports and Annual Supervision Report of the Faculty, they have been shared with Department of Quality Assurance of the University.
• Active Participating in first, second and third Master degree curricula of the Faculty of Plant Science in the Ministry of Higher Education.
• Second beach BSc Degree document is finalized.
• Crated Official Email address for all Lecturers.
• Annual academic repots of lecturers are completed.
• Current semester and educational year students Research proposals are presented.
• Lecturers Academic promotion documents are processed.
• Overseeing on time of all faculty related works.
• Processing of New designation lecturer documents in faculty.
• Participation in all faculty and university relative meeting and committees.
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Contact |
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+93700301188 |
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With Respect,
Dean of The Faculty of Plant Sciences