| Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science Rampur, Nepal | |
|---|---|
IAAS main administrative building, Rampur |
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| Established | 1957 |
| Type | Agricultural college |
| Dean | Prof. Dr. Sundar Man Shrestha |
| Academic staff | 150 |
| Location | Rampur, Chitwan Sundarbazar, Lamjung Bhairahawa, Rupandehi Nepal |
| Affiliations | Tribhuvan University |
| Website | www.iaas.edu.np |
The Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) is an agricultural institute under Tribhuvan University in Nepal for college level training in agriculture and animal sciences. The IAAS originated as a school of agriculture established in 1957 in Kathmandu to train Junior Technical Assistant (JTAs)s. In 1968, the school was upgraded to a college of agriculture. In 1972, the college was recognized as the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science under Tribhuvan University and moved to the present location at Rampur, Chitwan in 1974. Presently, the institute has three campuses at Rampur, Chitwan; Sundarbazar, Lamjung; and Bhairahawa, Rupandehi. It offers (Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Master of Science (Agriculture), Master of Science (Animal Science), Master of Veterinary Science, Master of Science (Aquaculture) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs. The dean's office is located at the Rampur Campus. The office includes a Central Management Team to run the institute, headed by the Dean.
The Directorate of Research and Publication (DOR) has been established at Rampur under the office of the Dean. The DOR encourages interdisciplinary research studies focusing on the priority areas as emphasized by the Nepal Agriculture perspective Plan (APP), a 20 year agriculture development plan which has been in effect since 1995. The DOR helps to develop proposals and to carry out research on both basic and applied biological as well as social science related research. The knowledge and information generated from research is disseminated through teaching, seminars, conferences, symposia, extension activities and scientific publications.
The research and development office is responsible for promoting research activities on campus. The research principally focuses on the mid-hill ecosystem which is a typical Nepali landscape. Currently participatory projects are underway in collaboration with IRRI. There is an upland rice research program located at Lamjung Campus Sundarbazar, located in the mid-hills of Nepal.
IAAS DOR approves small research grants on a regular basis. DOR encourages all facility members to develop research proposals and seek funds from any other institutions. IAAS also welcomes interested donor institutions or collaborative institutions for funding, or to conduct collaborative research in subject matter related to agriculture. At present, there are more than fifty research projects underway. These projects are managed by the DOR, and have been brought to the institute as per individual faculties efforts on a competitive basis.
Research on client based problems are being undertaken through MS and PhD thesis research in partnership with local line agencies and industries.
IAAS has a strong wheat breeding program in collaboration with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). Wheat pathologist Dr. Sundar Man Shrestha, agronomist N. K. Chaudhary and wheat breeder Umesh R. Rosyara are involved in the program. The major objective of the program is to develop stress resistant and tolerant genotypes for environments stressful to current strains of wheat. Foliar leaf blight or spot blotch is a major biotic stress whereas other stresses include heat and drought.[1]
A wheat management study team is developing a wheat for minimum or low tillage technology. Prof. Khem R. Dhahal and Prof. K.B. Basnet are leading this group.
Developing wild rice and rare rice genotypes for the Nepalese future is Prof. L.P. Subedi's vocation. He has a good collection of genotypes. Hybrid rice development is his major area of interest. He has maintained a rice kitchen garden.
Among fruits, major research is being done with lemons and limes. This research group, under the leadership of Prof. Durga D. Dhakal, focuses on perennial production of lemons and limes.
The IAAS has a good facility for fisheries and livestock research. The Fisheries research is led by Dr. M.K. Shrestha. Livestock and veterinary research is led by Associate Professor Dr Naba Raj Devkota and the faculty of the Department of Animal Nutrition and Fodder production. Research there concentrates on developing technology for fattening of male buffalo calves, improving productivity of male goats, agroforestry model establishment, and carrying capacity estimation of pasture and ranges in high altitude regions of Nepal. Animal science research is undertaken at the Department of Livestock Production Management under the leadership of Professor D.B. Nepali, and at the department of Animal Breeding and Biotechnology under the leadership of Associate Professor, Doctor Mana Raj Kolachhapati.
The IAAS constitutes the government funded veterinary school where students learns veterinary science at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. Annually 30 student graduate in BVSc and AH. Around 300 veterinarians have graduated from this institute so far.
There are four departments in veterinary science: Veterinary Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry; Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacology and Surgery; Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology and Epidemiology; and Veterinary Pathology, Theriogeonology and Clinic. In addition to this the three departments of Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Animal Nutrition and Fodder Production, and Livestock Production and Management closely work for broader prospective of animal sciences study and research.
A strong team of mostly foreign-educated researchers in the Veterinary Faculty of IAAS makes research and real field delivery of research outcomes very strong. The Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) the only one of its kind in Nepal and equipped and engaged in the service of teaching, clinical service and research.
The Microbiology laboratory, with Dr HB Basnet at the helm, is one of the best and most active laboratories in the country. The Medicine and Pharmacology laboratories participate in research of a diagnostic and experimental nature. The pathology laboratory with Dr DK Singh as head is well equipped and active in research. The Department of Theriogenology, with faculty members Dr BN Devkota, Dr K. Kaphle and Dr SK Sha (also director of VTH) is the most recently created but one of the most active departments of IAAS.
Research into reproductive problems of cattle and buffaloes, herbal medicine, and acupuncture as used for correction of infertility problems are some of the projects currently ongoing. The service of the department in the community by way of frequent infertility camps held at various locations of Chitwan district and further afield are examplenary works of the IAAS. Works on semen and bull fertility are currently undergoing.
Herbal medicine research involving laboratory and farm animals is also an active area of ongoing research. Prof Dr S Thapaliya and K. Kaphle are international experts in this field and are currently engaged in this work. Many graduate and post graduate students are doing their research on herbal medicine; in that field Nepal is highly gifted and has huge a potential.
IAAS features the first biotechnology laboratory in Nepal; this facility has laboratories which provide DNA and protein based molecular analysis. The laboratory was established with the support of the World Bank on the initiative of Prof. R. C. Sharma. Sundarman Shrestha, U. R. Rosyara, S.K. Ghimire and M. Pandey are involved in management of the facility.
IAAS makes continuous efforts to design and upgrade its academic activities through national and international partnerships. Attempts have been made to establish academic relationships and to exchange and share scientific information for the mutual benefits of both institutions. To this effect, memorandums of understanding have been signed between IAAS and several national and international institutions. Partners include: CIMMYT, Agro Enterprise Centre (AEC), Department of Agriculture (DOA), Department of Livestock (DLS), Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, IMMI, Cornell University (USA), University of Graz (Austria), Hiroshima University (Japan), Writtle College (England), Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand), and Tufts University (USA).
The Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Lamjung Campus is located at Sundarbazar VDC of Lamjung district, Nepal. This institute was established as a branch of IAAS Rampur, Chitwan (Central campus) under Tribhuvan University in 1976 (2032 B.S.) with the following main objectives:
The campus has altogether 338 ropani (282 ropani of uplands and 56 ropani of lowlands) of land in six plots. It has one horticulture, one agronomy and one livestock farm extended in 252 ropani in and around the campus area. These farms are meant for production of fruits, vegetables, cereals, animals and birds and for doing practical work. The upland area includes a mango orchard and extra land around the office and residential area; about 4200 coffee plants were planted on this land during August, 2005.
The campus chief is the head of the institute and for general administration, academic administration, accounts, store, library, farms, hostels and dispensary work under the chief office. In each of the above sections, there is one branch head and a varying number of workers, depending on programs. Internal management is the responsibility of the section head. Major decisions related to rules and regulations in each section are made by the meeting of section heads and related personnel headed by the campus chief.
There are altogether 150 teaching staff members, and 56 in administrative support on campus. Two teachers have PhD degrees while others hold master's degrees in their respective subjects. The number of teachers employed on campus has not been sufficient to run the program. Therefore, at least four teachers have been brought from Rampur on a contract basis, each year. The campus also lacks workers, watchmen and lab assistants.
The institute has
There are other facilities like 24 dormitories and residences (one chief, 9 senior staff, 10 junior staff and four lower staff), 1 guest house, 1 boys' hostel, 1 girls' hostel and 2 mess halls. Similarly, there is a poultry house, a goat shed, two cattle/buffalo sheds, a swine shed, a farm store, an auditorium hall, a garage and a dispensary.
During its early years, the institute used to teach a one year course of I. Sc. (Basic science) Agriculture diploma and produced 947 middle level agricultural technicians during the period of 1975 to 1983 (2032 to 2040 B.S.). The institute started a non-academic Junior Technical Assistant (JTA) training program in 1984 (2041 B.S.). 644 JTAs were trained during the period of 1984 to 1990 (2041 to 2047 B.S.). The Institute also started a two-year I. Sc. (Basic science) Agriculture diploma program in 1991 (2048 B.S.) and produced 313 JTs up to 2001 (2058 B.S.). In the year 2002, (2059 B.S.), the Institute introduced an eight-semester Bachelor of Science in Agriculture program. an entrance exam is taken through the dean's office in Rampur and teaching starts in the month of Ashad (June).
Besides teaching, the institute has trained a large number of farmers in modern agricultural practices. The campus has directly and indirectly boosted the economy of the farmers residing near the campus. Farmers have also benefited from different types of agricultural projects at the campus. However, the research and extension activities have not been efficient and effective due to a lack of funding.
There are 18 departments are functioning in IAAS which are as follows. 1. Agricultural Economics 2. Agricultural Extension and Sociology 3. Agricultural Statistics and Mathematics 4. Agronomy 5. Animal Breeding and Biotechnology 6. Animal Nutrition and Fodder Production 7. Aquaculture 8. Entomology 9. Environmental Science 10. Horticulture 11. Livestock Production and Management 12. Plant Breeding 13. Plant Pathology 14. Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering 15. Veterinary Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry 16. Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacology and Surgery 17. Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology and Epidemiology 18. Veterinary Pathology, Theriogeonology and Clinic
These departments cover subjects such as Agronomy, Plant Breeding, Genetics, Soil Science, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Animal Science, Aquaculture, Veterinary Medicine, Animal Breeding, Environmental Science, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Economics, Plant Pathology and Sociology.
IAAS publishes the Journal of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, an annual publication, showcasing scientific information on plant, animal and social sciences. The DOR also publishes IAAS Research Reports based on research carried out under the internal as well as external funding schemes, and recently, M.Sc. Thesis Abstract covering theses of postgraduate students at IAAS.