INTRODUCTION

The School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology was established in the year 1986.� Presently, the School is made up of five(5) Departments, namely:- Animal Production Department, Agricultural Economics and Extension Technology Department, Water Resources, Aquaculture and Fisheries Technology Department, Soil Science Department and Crop Production Department.

Aims and Objectives of Establishing the School.

• To develop high level manpower in Agriculture and related discipline.
• To expose individuals to the practice of modern agriculture.
• To equip individuals with Agricultural research skills relevant to the growth and Development of the nation.
• To enrich the communities with information emanating from research findings and provide advisory services to farmers.

Philosophy:

The major philosophy of the School is to produce graduates who are job creators and not job seekers.

Vision:

To provide a world class environment for high quality academic and technological training in all areas of Agriculture suitable for the development of high Caliber manpower and to generate sustainable improvement in all areas of Agriculture, through teaching, research and extension to local and international communities.

Mission Statement:

To produce graduate that are adequately equipped with comprehensive theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for engaging in efficient Agricultural production for self employment and conducting of cutting edge problem solving research in aspects of Agriculture.

Research and Publications:

• The staff of the School have been actively involved in conducting research using grants internally provided through the University Board of Research and externally through Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN).� Meanwhile, these are some of the on going researches:
• Optimizing crop yield in Nigeria�s Guinea Savanna by Developing and Dissemating sustainable soil management Technology in Response to Climate Change being funded by Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN).
• Validation of a computer model for predicting soil water characteristics from texture under sub-humid tropical conditions, being funded by the University Board of Research of the School.
• Striga Control Using Aeshynomene histrix sponsored by the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN).
• The School has collaboration nationally and internationally among which are Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries.� New Bussa, Nigeria Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research, Lagos, University of Stirling, United Kingdom.
• Some of the academic staff in the School have research grants like step B project and University board of Research grants.� Every academic member of staff is involved in at least two syndicate research group at the University level.
• The staff of the School innovated a portable mobile re-circulatory system and thermo regulated hatchery which won NUC award.
• Some members of staff in the School have published their research work in reputable international and national journals in the year under review.� These were in the research ar3eas of Protein sparing effect of lipid and carbohydrate,� Use of melon shell as floating agent for fish feeds and also, the use of algae in the production of bio-diesel.

Major Activities of the School

1. �The School coordinates and supervises the teaching and research activities of the various Departments

2.�� It coordinates the students� Industrial work Experience Scheme (SIWES)

3.� The School organizes and conduct the meetings of the School Board, Standing and adhoc Committees

4.�� It represents the School at various organs and adhoc committees.

5.�� It also resolves the complaints, grievances and /or problems of the Students and staff� brought before it.

Conferences Hosted:

The School was able to host some conferences during the year under review such as the Soil Science Society of Nigeria, Horticultural Society of Nigeria Series 10 (HORTON), Agricultural Research council of Nigeria (ARCN) as well as Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria (AESON).

Staff Development:

Some staff of the School are presently undergoing training in various fields, for instance in the Department of Water Resources, Aquaculture and Fisheries Technology about five (5) academic staff are undergoing Ph.D programs. and Two (2) staff with HND and B.Tech are being funded by the University.� In Crop Production Department seven (7) academic staff are presently doing their postgraduate studies out of which five of them are doing Ph.D, one M.Sc and one B.Sc.� Six of them are being sponsored by the University while one is self sponsored.� Similarly, in Soil Science Department two staff are currently on training and both of them at Ph.D level with one being sponsored by PTDF and the other is sponsored by the University.� Agricultural Economics Department has fourteen (14) staff that are currently on training out of which ten (10) of them are pursuing PhD, four (4) Masters degree, most of them are being sponsored by the University.� Animal Production Department sent twelve (12) staff on training with nine (9) pursuing Ph.D and three (3) Masters degree , six out of the nine are being sponsored by the University.

Also some staff attended workshop on Soil/physical processes in West Africa, A.B.U., Zaria, similarly, a staff in the Dean�s office attended a workshop in leadership essentials at the Centre for Management Development (CMD) Abuja.

In terms of staffing, the School has a total number of ninety eight (98) academic staff and fifty four (54) non-academic staff two sabbatical and one visiting staff in the Department of Agricultural Economic and Extension Technology.

Major Achievements

Belarus:� A team from the School visited Belarus during the period under review to purge collaboration and acquire agricultural equipment.� As an outcome of the visit the School is expecting the delivery of agricultural equipment, including four (4) giant tractors, planters, boom sprayers etc.� These equipment have been cleared at the port in Lagos and are being expected to arrive Minna anytime from now.

Inaugural Lectures:� Two Professors from the School presented their inaugural lectures back to back these, are Professor K. M. Baba and Professor J. A. Oladiran while Professor Baba spoke on Irrigation Development and Food Security in Nigeria,� Professor Oladiran presented his inaugural lecture on Striving for Food Security in Nigeria.� The Role of a Viable and Vibrant Seed Industry.

Teaching and Research Farm:-� When the School moved from Bosso Campus to Gidan Kwano, it was given a temporary site for teaching and research farm.� However, within the period under review, the School was given a quit notice from the site and since then the situation has become worrisome, meanwhile, efforts are being made by the management to allocate a permanent site to the School, which will be included in the on going review of master plan.

Furthermore, the School will be due for accreditation next year and is hopeful that, the new farm will be developed as quickly as possible to meet the accreditation exercise.

Commercial Farm:� Activities in commercial farm started in 2008 with the cropping of maize and yam.� In 2009 the same maize and yam were cultivated; however, the returns from the farm in both seasons were lower than expected.� In 2010/2011 farming season only a little yam, some cowpea and soya beans were grown.� In view of the poor performance of maize in the previous seasons in addition the farm established a catfish production facility, so far two cycles of catfish have been produced with encouraging results.� It is hoped that the anticipated arrival of the agricultural equipment earlier mentioned will boost arable crop production on the farm.

New Programs/Departments for the School:� The Food Science and Nutrition Programs is currently housed under the Animal Production Department, however, all requirements for the creation of the full pledge Department of the Food and Nutrition Department have been met, the proposal is just awaiting NUC accent.

Similarly, the School has recently constituted a committee to draw up proposal for a new Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism the Committee is in advanced stage of its work and is expected to submit its report anytime from now.

In a related development, the School has recently constituted a committee to look into the possibility of full or partial domestication of the SIWES program, this is in view of the fact that, the existing arrangement does not guarantee relevant experience by students on SIWES Program, the committee is expected to submit its final report soon.� As soon as all these reports are made available, the School will be making a case for the establishment of virtually all the new Programmes to the academic and curriculum development committee.

The School also hosted the Soil Science Society of Nigeria Conference.� Horticultural Society of Nigeria series 10 as well as Agricultural Research Extension Society of Nigeria (AESON).� In the year under review one of the staff of the School won the competitive World Bank research grant under the step B project.

Degree Awarded: B.Agric. Tech, M. Tech, PhD
Dean- Prof. M. G. M. Kolo
Departments:Animal Production� H.O.D � Dr. A.T. Ijaiya

• Agric. Econs. &Extension Technology � H.O.D �Dr. R. S Olaleye
• Crop Production � H.O.D � Dr. A. S. Ganaa
• Soil Science� H.O.D � Dr. M.K.A. Adeboye
• W A F T � H.O.D �� Dr. J. O Oyero
• Food Science and Technology � H.O.D � Dr. J. C. Anuonye