Since the re-establishment of the University of Sulaimani in 1992, Agricultural Engineering Science was one of the colleges that opened first on November 15th, 1992, to receive undergraduate students. There were several reasons behind the decision to reopen the College of Agricultural Sciences. Kurdistan Region is mainly classified as an agricultural country with a vast area of arable land and adequate water resources. More than 50% of the Iraqi population works in the agriculture sector. Cattle breeding and farming have always been important sectors of the region’s national product. Given political stability, Kurdistan can produce enough food to assure the food security of the region; therefore, training specialists in the field of agriculture is of vital importance for the region.
Out of 983000 hectares of land in Sulaimani Governorate, approximately 306000 hectares (31.2%) are cultivated with strategic crop plants such as wheat, barley, chickpeas, lentils, sunflowers, cotton, sesame, peanuts, rice, and broad beans. The soil of these cultivated lands is of high fertility and organic matter. The climatic conditions are suitable for dry farming activities during October- June due to the availability of adequate precipitation annually (more than 750 mm). Water resources are available for summer cultivation. In Kurdistan, the daily thermal degree available for crop growth is more than 2600 degrees, and total solar radiation is more than 22 Megajoules M-² Day-¹.
The department of Biotechnology and Crop Science is to be a center of knowledge and excellence in teaching and research. Seeking to strengthen sustainable environmental and agricultural products contributing to improve quality of life based on our commitment and dedication to scientific knowledge and technology in the field of Crop Science. The department also plans to update the study programs of all undergraduate courses related to the strategic and policy goals of the department to make them more comparable with those of other Biotechnologies and Crop Science departments in developed countries.
The department endeavors to generate, integrate, and apply agricultural knowledge to produce sustainable food and other benefits for humans. This can be achieved through the integration of teaching and research efforts, enabling graduate alumni to conduct professional activities in the field of Agronomy with advanced technological knowledge in a sustainable manner in both the public and private sectors. We work to ensure that agricultural systems and production in the Kurdistan Region are able to assure food security through meeting demand for food due to the increasing population rate and uncertainty about the environment and climate conditions for the current and future generations.
Since its establishment, the department of Biotechnology and Crop Science at the University of Sulaimani has been involved in conducting research to improve crop productivity in the Sulaimaniyah region. Research activities extend to improving cultural practices, crop fertilization, practicing intercropping, pastureland management, improvement, and the introduction of new germplasm. Moreover, the department incorporated postgraduate studies, i.e. High Diploma, M.Sc., and Ph.D. programs, to improve crop productivities, crop physiology, crop breeding, crop germplasm manipulation, and plant phytochemistry, however, the first cycle of B.Sc. study is involved in qualifying graduate as an Agricultural Engineer in Biotechnology and Crop Science.
The department has adopted the Bologna Process. In addition, the methods of teaching are both theoretical and practical.
English
Study in this department is for 4 years (8 semesters).
