Institute of Agricultural Sciences
Pakistan is the country blessed by all types of seasons. The people of this country enjoy all the seasons along with the different natural gifts like snowfall, different kinds of crops, vegetables and fruits, rain, leave fall and many other things. With increasing the population in the world the demand of food and employments is increased day by day. In Pakistan, the Agriculture is the only lifeline to meet the demand of food and employments. The Agriculture sector continues to play a central role in Pakistan’s economy. It is the second largestsector, accounting for over 21 percent of GDP, and remains by far the largest employer, absorbing 45percent of the country’s total labour force. Nearly 62 percent of the country’s population resides in ruralareas, and is directly or indirectly linked with agriculture for their livelihood. The Agriculture sector’sstrong linkages with the rest of the economy are not fully captured in the statistics. While on the onehand, the sector is a primary supplier of raw materials to downstream industry, contributingsubstantially to Pakistan’s exports, on the other, it is a large market for industrial products such asfertilizer, pesticides, tractors and agricultural implements.
Keeping in view of tremendous future of Agriculture in Pakistan, University of the Punjab, initially, established the Department of Mycology & Plant pathology in 2002. To meet the diversity of Agriculture this department has granted the nomenclature as Institute of Agricultural Science (IAGS). Institute of Agricultural sciences is an extraordinary blend of renowned faculty, state-of –the art laboratoires and learing centres,and tremendous students and staff providing a unique environmental for learning and technological advancement. We are strengthened by dedicated academic partners, industrial and governmental collaborators. The main building of today’s institute is spread over an area of around seven acres of land. Another 7 acres have been earmarked for the development of experimental station behind the main building. The building has 5 lecture rooms with multimedia facility, each capable of accodmodating 100 students; 5 fully equipped general laboratories,i.e. Agronomy, Horticulture, Entomology for B.sc (Hons) students, 1 for M.Sc (honors) and Ph.D.; 5 research laboratories, allocated for advanced research in the field of Plant Virology, seed/Post-harvest Pathology, Industrial Biotechnology, Biofertilizers/Biopesticides, Tissue Culture and one central Lab; 27 faculty staff officers, Faculty Lounge;Common rooms for Boys and Girls;Seminar room;Computer lab;Publication cell; growth room; 2 culture rooms;conservatory, Library, store, Administrative staff offices and a captivating visitors loungs.
The institute of Agricultural Sciences has been established with the explicit purpose of reinforcing the corps of trained Agriculturist whose presence is necessary to ensure crop production; crop protection, improved crop health and agriculture based industrial development. Through education, research and extension, the department would be a major contributor to the future of, and the application of science towards improved agriculture production system.
Institute of Agricultural Sciences, offer 4 years B.Sc (Hons)(Plant Pathology), 2 years M.Sc (Hons)(Plant Pathology), M.Sc (Hons) leading to Ph.D and Ph.D programs. We envisage that in the near future we will be able to start different major programs i.e. Agronomy, Horticulture, Entomology, Food Technology, Plant Breeding & Genetics etc since we will have the necessary resources. This goad will achieved by curriculum development based on national needs and as per international standards and specifications like judicious distribution of Credit hours, Compaction of curriculum and application of subjects in the applied disciplines.
Agriculture and its allied profession are not merely source of employment but a complete way of life. The future of a career in agriculture in Pakistan is very bright. Nobody can refuse the importance of agriculture and its allied fields. Numerous industries which depend on the agriculture raw material have been set up.Trained agricultural scientists are badly needed for such industries. Grade 17 job in government organization is offered to the B.Sc (Hons) in agriculture degree holder in this field and also have tremendous opportunities to work in private sector.