Faculty of Agriculture
Message of the Dean
It is my pleasure to welcome you at the Faculty of Agriculture, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi. The faculty is committed to excellence in education, research, innovation, and professional development across the agricultural sciences. Our dedicated and highly qualified faculty members strive to provide a stimulating, inclusive academic environment that develops critical thinking, scientific inquiry, practical competence, ethical values, and social responsibility. Through our undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs, we prepare competent agricultural professionals, researchers, innovators, and future leaders capable of addressing emerging agricultural challenges and contributing meaningfully to national development, particularly in Pakistan’s dryland regions.
Agriculture is central to Pakistan’s economy and to the nation’s food security, rural development, and sustainable livelihoods. In response to climate change, water scarcity, land degradation, and growing food demand, the faculty promotes innovative, climate-smart, resource-efficient, and sustainable agricultural practices. We are committed to strengthening collaboration among academia, research organizations, extension services, industry, policymakers, and farming communities so that scientific knowledge is translated into practical, locally relevant solutions for farms, enterprises, and communities. I invite prospective students, researchers, alumni, agricultural professionals, farmers, industry partners, and development stakeholders to join us in advancing agricultural knowledge and building a resilient, productive, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural future for Pakistan.
About faculty
Rooted in the founding legacy of Barani Agricultural College in 1979, the Faculty of Agriculture is the academic cornerstone of PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, and a leading center for education, research and innovation in rainfed and dryland agriculture. Its eight departments; Agronomy, Agricultural Extension, Entomology, Forestry, Horticulture, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Pathology, and Soil Science offer undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral degree programs. The faculty serves more than 1,250 students through accredited, outcome-based degree programs delivered by doctoral-qualified academics and supported by specialized laboratories, greenhouses, field facilities and multidisciplinary research teams.
Steered by its commitment to climate-smart and resource efficient agriculture, the faculty addresses challenges related to food and nutritional security, climate change, water scarcity, land degradation and sustainable rural livelihoods. Its teaching and research integrate crop improvement, precision agriculture, soil and water management, horticulture, plant health, forestry and agricultural extension. Through the 250-acre University Research Farm at Koont, demonstration facilities, farmer and industry partnerships, and entrepreneurship-oriented initiatives, the faculty translates scientific knowledge into practical solutions and prepares competent, ethical, innovative and entrepreneurial graduates to lead agricultural transformation in Pakistan and beyond.
The Faculty of Agriculture is actively engaged in applied research aimed at addressing the challenges and needs of the agricultural industry and farming communities. Integrated teams comprising faculty members and research students regularly visit farmers and participate in comprehensive outreach activities across the Pothohar region. Currently, the Faculty’s research is supported through funding from both national and international agencies. The Faculty has also achieved significant research outcomes, including the granting of two (2) patents by the Intellectual Property Organization (IPO), Pakistan.
Recognizing the need for crop improvement and enhanced agricultural productivity in the region, the Faculty has developed eight (8) climate-resilient and high-yielding varieties of horticultural crops. These improved varieties are expected to enhance productivity, strengthen resilience to climate-related challenges, and improve the livelihoods of local farming communities.
VISION
To be a national leader and a globally recognized Centre of excellence in agricultural education, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, advancing climate-resilient agriculture, food and nutritional security, sustainable dryland development, and rural prosperity.
MISSION
The faculty’s mission is to develop competent, ethical, innovative, and entrepreneurial agricultural professionals through high-quality education, research-led learning, and hands-on scientific training. We generate and apply knowledge, build purposeful partnerships, and translate research into practical, locally relevant solutions that advance climate-resilient agriculture, food and nutritional security, sustainable dryland development, and rural prosperity in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
