Background Information
About College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Agriculture has always been the source of livelihoods in Ethiopia and is thus often dubbed as the backbone of the national economy. The sector employs more than 80% of the population. It also contributes 43% of the gross domestic product, and 90% of the export earnings is derived from agriculture. Moreover, it supplies a significant proportion of the raw materials for the agro-industries. However, due to the poor, traditional and backward agricultural performance, millions of people still face food shortage, famine, starvation, and malnutrition.
Most parts of Ethiopia suffer also from several forms of environmental/natural resources degradation that adversely affect food and agricultural production and productivity. Factors such as high population pressure (about 2.8% growth rate per annum), deforestation, overgrazing along with inappropriate land and water resources management practices are thought to be the major reasons for poor agricultural production and productivity which marks the major food security challenges of Ethiopians. In addition to these existing challenges, agriculture in Ethiopia is confronted with tremendous new challenges such as growing threats from climate change, new and emerging infectious plant and animal diseases. To feed a population that doubles every 20 years, agricultural yield increment is highly required through a combination of scientific knowledge and traditional know-how. Technological advancement and yield increment in agriculture highly depends on research and research in turn depends on training and education. Therefore, training is the key to the whole process.
Considering the highest environmental degradation in the country, frequent drought and food shortage on the one hand, and agricultural potentials of Amhara region where the College is located on the other, the initiation of the first agricultural college in the region was justifiable and long overdue. Due to this fact, along with an equitable expansion of higher education in the country and an increased institutional independence, a conducive environment was created for Bahir Dar University to initiate new curricula in Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Accordingly, in September 2002, a committee was established to prepare the curricula and finally, the then Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences which has currently developed into College was launched in 2005 by enrolling 230 students in six undergraduate programs. Curriculum revisions took place in 2006 and 2008 to suit to the needs of the stakeholders, and very recently the curricula were changed into modular approach.
The College has planned to expand its undergraduate and postgraduate programs in the near future with the opening of Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Entomology, Doctor of Philosophy in Apiculture, Master of Science in Veterinary Parasitology, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences Extension, Bachelor of Science in Plant Sciences Extension, Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Management Extension, and Bachelor of Science in Horticulture Extension.
The college has a total of 141 teaching staff on duty, of which 60 have PhD degree, 80 MSc and 1 DVM. Moreover, it has 33 teaching staff on study leave; 1 for Postdoctoral, 24 for PhD and 8 for MSc degrees. There are also 38 laboratory technical assistants, 35 of whom having at least a BSc degree in their fields. For the successful accomplishment of its mission, the college has ICT Labs, animal farms, green house, research laboratories, beekeeping training center, and research and technology multiplication field in Koga irrigation area.
Bachelor’s Degree Programs
1. Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences
2. Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Extension
3. Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Management
4. Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
5. Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Ecotourism Management
6. Bachelor of Science in Horticulture
7. Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics
8. Bachelor of Science in Plant Sciences
9. Bachelor of Science in Rural Development and Agricultural Extension
10. Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Science
11. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
Master Programs
1. Master of Science in Agronomy
2. Master of Science in Agricultural Economics
3. Master of Science in Fisheries and Aquaculture
4. Master of Science in Aquatic and Wetland Ecosystems Management
5. Master of Science in Environment and Climate Change
6. Master of Science in Animal Genetics and Breeding
7. Master of Science in Feeds and Animal Nutrition
8. Master of Science in Apiculture
9. Master of Science in Animal Production
10. Master of Science in Plant Breeding
11. Master of Science in Plant Protection
12. Master of Science in Horticulture
13. Master of Science in Land Resource Management
14. Master of Science in Rural Development Management
15. Master of Science in Agricultural Extension and Innovation
16. Master of Science in Seed Science and Technology
17. Master of Science in Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics
18. Master of Science in Veterinary Microbiology
19. Master of Science in Veterinary Public Health
20. Master of Science in Wildlife Conservation and Ecotourism Management
21. Master of Science in Soil Science
22. Master of Science in Watershed Management and Soil conservation
23. Master of Science in Environment and Natural Resource Economics
24. Master of Science in Agroforestry
25. Master of Science in Agricultural Entomology
26. Master of Science in Plant Pathology
27. Master of Science in Plant Quarantine and Agricultural Pesticides
28. Master of Science in Aquatic Ecosystems and Environmental Management (A joint program run by Bahir Dar University, Addis Ababa University and Egerton University, Kenya and funded by Austrian Government)
PhD Programs
1. Doctor of Philosophy in Agronomy
2. Doctor of Philosophy in Fisheries and Aquaculture
3. Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science
4. Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Genetics and Breeding
5. Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Nutrition
6. Doctor of Philosophy in Aquatic and Wetland Ecosystems Management
7. Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture
8. Doctor of Philosophy in Rural Development
9. Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Pathology
10. Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Breeding and Genetics
11. Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Production (specialization in Dairy Science & Technology, Meat Science and Technology, Poultry Science)
12. Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Economics (specialization in Production Economics, Environment and Resource Economics, Agriculture Marketing and Value Chain)
13. Doctor of Philosophy in Apiculture
14. Doctor of Philosophy in Entomology
15. Doctor of Philosophy in Wild Life Conservation and Eco-tourism Management
