Introduction of the Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Development
بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم
The Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Extension operates with the aim of training professional cadres to strengthen the country's agricultural sector, promote economic growth, and ensure sustainable development. Through academic and practical education, the faculty strives to train students in the fields of agricultural products marketing, modern agriculture, economic analysis, and agricultural development programs.
The faculty offers teaching and research programs in various departments, including Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension, Marketing, and Agribusiness Management. Additionally, the faculty provides opportunities for research and innovation through collaboration with national and international organizations.
Our goal is to train professionals who can analyze and solve economic problems within the agricultural sector, increase farmers' income, and take an active role in the country's economic progress.
This faculty was established in 2012, initially consisting of two departments: Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Extension. In 2017, in response to regional needs, a third department named Agricultural Marketing was added to its structure.
In 2020, following the transfer and integration of the Faculty of Agriculture from Kandahar University to ANASTU (Afghanistan National Agricultural Sciences and Technology University), the Agribusiness Management department came under this faculty's umbrella. Furthermore, in 2025, the Islamic Culture department was added as a non-degree-granting department. Currently, the Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Extension consists of five departments.
In accordance with a decision made on October 13, 2021 (Protocol No. 7), permission was granted to offer Master’s degree programs in the fields of Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Extension.
Based on this and available resources, the first cohort of six Master’s students was recruited into the Agricultural Economics department in February/March 2022. Their teaching and research activities are conducted through the joint cooperation of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and ANASTU.
At present, the faculty has 1 PhD holder, 11 master’s degree holders, and 5 bachelor’s degree holders among its academic staff.
Vision
The Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Extension is keen to developing national academic expertise, fostering an advanced research environment, and establishing innovative agricultural systems through the integration of modern technology.
Mission
The Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Extension is dedicated to training academic professionals at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels to establish an advanced agro-economic system. By conducting scientific research and promoting modern agricultural technology, we aim to enhance market access for agricultural products, improve farmers' livelihoods, and contribute to the nation's economic growth.
Objectives
The Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Extension intends to utilize academic and research methods and skills to train students in a way that leads to the reform and strengthening of the country's agricultural economic sector at the national level.
Departments
1. Agriculture Economics
2. Agribusiness Management
3. Agriculture Extension
4. Agriculture Marketing
5. Islamic Culture
Committees
1. Academic Council
2. Postgraduate Coordination Committee
3. Quality Assurance Committee
4. Scientific Research and Publications Committee
5. Curriculum Implementation and Evaluation Committee
6. Strategic Planning Committee
7. Examinations Committee
8. Student Affairs and Sports Committee
9. Cultural Affairs Committee
10. Invitation, Guidance, Discipline, and Complaint Committee
Strategic Plan
The Strategic Plan of the Faculty has been developed to strengthen the faculty’s academic, teaching, and research activities, enabling it to play an effective role in the growth and sustainable development of the country’s agricultural sector.
Based on the faculty’s vision and mission, this plan focuses on the following key areas:
• Administrative reform and system development.
• Good governance and anti-corruption efforts.
• Review and development of curriculum.
• Ensuring the implementation of quality assurance and accreditation standards.
• The expansion and standardization of E-learning.
• Infrastructure development and modernization.
• Capacity building.
• Proposing plans for the review, amendment, and drafting of legislative and technical documents.
• Strengthening and expanding relations with academic and non-academic institutions.
• Ensuring equitable access to higher education.
Additionally, the faculty's focal points include raising the quality of teaching to high standards, expanding research, training professional cadres, promoting modern agricultural and economic skills, and strengthening cooperation with national and international organizations.
The faculty strives to create an environment through innovation, transparency, and accountability where students can acquire practical skills and become market-ready. Furthermore, supporting scientific research in the fields of agricultural extension, marketing, and effective resource management is a vital component of this plan.
Overall, this strategic plan sets a clear direction for the faculty to become a center of academic excellence in the field of agricultural economic sciences and to take a constructive part in the country’s economic development.
Action Plan
• Providing necessary facilities for the promotion and expansion of scientific research.
• Reviewing, developing, and updating the curriculum.
• Aligning the current syllabus with modern teaching methods.
• Activating new departments within the faculty.
• Sending current faculty members with Master’s degrees to PhD programs.
• Enrolling current faculty members with Bachelor’s degrees into Master’s programs.
• Organizing short-term training programs for faculty members both domestically and abroad.
• Capacity building for technical staff.
• Promoting innovation.
• Popularizing critical thinking.
• Preparing the annual monitoring report for the year 2026.
• Addressing deficiencies in the eleven (11) primary and forty-nine (49) secondary quality assurance standards.
• Providing consultative services to the community.
• Conducting examinations and academic conferences for academic staff in accordance with regulations.
• Maintaining strict supervision over student assessments and exams to ensure justice and fairness.
• Strengthening the administrative sector.
• Focusing on culture, the rule of law, environmental protection/greening, and attracting grants.
Action Reports
1. Necessary facilities for promoting and expanding scientific research have been implemented to some extent; however, a need for further resources remains, and this work is currently in progress.
2. The review, development, and modernization of the Bachelor’s (undergraduate) program have been completed. For the Master’s level, the curricula for the Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Extension departments have also been finalized.
3. The current syllabus has been aligned with modern teaching methods, and further refinements are ongoing.
4. The Islamic Culture department, a non-degree-granting unit, has been successfully activated within the faculty.
5. Faculty members with Master’s degrees have not yet been sent for PhD programs because these programs are currently unavailable within the country.
6. Faculty members with Bachelor’s degrees have been successfully enrolled in Master’s programs.
7. Short-term training programs have been prepared and made available for faculty members.
8. Training programs have been established within the university to enhance the capacity of technical staff.
9. The self-assessment reports for the faculty and its departments have been completed to a certain extent; further work is required and will be carried out.
10. The faculty consistently provides consultative services and advice on modern farming techniques to local farmers in the community.
11. Strict and regular monitoring of both faculty and student
With Respect
Dean of Faculty of Agricultural Economics & Development