Department of Agriculture

The department of agriculture was established in 1395/1396AH 1974/1975AD as a new program in the faculty of environmental sciences. In 1405 H, the University Council agreed to change its name into the Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, to ensure the role of the Arid Land Agriculture Department, which had developed greatly by that time. The interest in cultivating arid land comes from the nature of environment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where water, temperature, and salinity are the most important factors affecting the agricultural production. The department pays great attention to the problems that impede development in the domain of agricultural production (both plant and animal production) in the Western region of the Kingdom and generally in the arid land. It aims to find scientific and applied solutions to these problems in order to enrich scientific research and qualify national cadres who can fulfill the needs of labor market and research in the Kingdom. In order to cope with global technical and scientific development, that requires using modern agricultural techniques to raise production in both plants and animals sectors , the Arid Land Agricultural Department shows special interest in using the nonconventional modern agricultural technical systems such as greenhouses , hydroponics, tissue culture and genetic engineering and initiation of genetic programs for the sake of rehabilitating, selecting and planting of adapted types of crops suitable for environmental conditions of arid lands. Economizing in irrigation water through drip and sprinkle irrigation, and use of treated sewage water in irrigation are two additional aims of the department.. Agricultural sciences include the following sections: Crops and soil, Agronomy, Horticulture, Animal Production, Renewable Natural Resources. On the ninth of Sha'ban 1444 AH - corresponding to March 1, 2023 AD, a decision was issued by His Excellency the Minister of Education and Chairman of the Council for Universities Affairs to amend the name of the department to become " Department of Agriculture