College of Agriculture

The former Mindanao Institute of Technology, now the University of Southern Mindanao, was established in 1952 and started to offer the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree in 1954 – 1955. In 1959, the late President Dominador D. Clemente approved the establishment of the Department of Agricultural Education with the late Prof. Crisostomo M. Marasigan, as its first head.

In 1976, the department became the College of Agriculture (CA) two years before the Mindanao Institute of Technology was converted into the University of Southern Mindanao in March 13, 1978. At present, the CA offers four BS degree programs: Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA), Bachelor of Science in Farming Systems (BSFS), Bachelor of Science in Animal Husbandry (BSAH) and Bachelor of Science in Fisheries (BSF). It is composed of eleven (11) departments, namely; Department of Agricultural Extension, Agronomy, Animal Science, Entomology, Farming Systems, Horticulture, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Pathology, Soil Science, Fisheries, General Agriculture I and II.

The College is headed by the College Dean and assisted by 11 Department Chairpersons, 28 College Coordinators and six (6) support personnels in the implementation of its vision / mission, goals and objectives.

Premier College

The College of Agriculture as the mother unit gave birth to the creation of other colleges: the College of Engineering now College of Engineering and Computing from its Department of Agricultural Engineering; College of Business Development Economics and Management from its Department of Agricultural Economics; the College of Veterinary Medicine from its Department of Veterinary Medicine; and the College of Fisheries and Animal Sciences from its Department of Animal Science.

On its journey towards attaining and maintaining a culture of academic excellence and relevance in tertiary education, the CA had been led by brilliant men and women at its helm, to wit: Prof. Crisostomo M. Marasigan, Drs. Kadil P. Sinolinding, Anacleto M. Pedrosa Jr., Kundo E. Pahm, Virgilio G. Oliva, Teofilo C. dela Cruz, Pio A. Elevazo, Eugenio A. Alcala, Abraham G. Castillo, Naomi G. Tangonan, Ariston D. Calvo, Nicolas A. Turnos, Edna M. Jover, Conrado C. Evangelista and Adeflor G. Garcia, the current dean.

The College was accredited by AACCUP with Level 1 status on November 18, 1996, Level II on September 23, 1998, Level II Reaccredited Status on November 21, 2001, and Level III, Phase I on November 29, 2006 and Phase II in January 2007. Moreover, the College was also designated in 1997 as the Nodal Center for the Mindanao Advanced Education Programs (MAEP) in Agriculture and as one of the six Centers of Excellence (COE) in Agriculture Education throughout the country by CHED in February 1999.

The pool of research scientist in the College of Agriculture has been recognized by the Philippine Agriculture and Resources Research Foundation, Inc. (PARRFI), hence Professorial Chairs and Scholarship are regularly awarded. For the Professorial Chair holders, this was commenced when Dr. Naomi G. Tangonan was awarded in 2001. The following are other PARRFI Professorial Chair holders in the College: Dr. Ariston D. Calvo (2002), Dr. Romulo L. Cena (2003), Dr. Demetrio V. Oria (2004), Dr. Conrado C. Evangelista (2005); Dr. Purificacion O. Cahatian (2006); Dr. Adeflor G. Garcia (2007); Dr. Baudilla S. Calvo and Dr. Jaime C. Silvestre (2008); Dr. Raquel B. Evangelista (2009); Dr. Emma K. Sales (2010); Dr. Edna M. Jover (2011).

The College has been previously awarded as one of the National Agriculture under the National Universities in Agriculture and Fisheries Education System (NAFES) on October 2009 and Center of Development in BS Agriculture on February 27, 2009.

Goals

The College of Agriculture assumes a prime role in pursuing a culture of excellence in agricultural instruction, research, extension and production activities.  It endeavors to train morally upright men and women who will be leaders in various fields of agricultural education, science and technology.

Objectives

The general objective of the College of Agriculture is to produce graduates who are locally and globally competitive; develop or train manpower resources who will provide moral leadership in the socio – economic and agri–industrial development of Southern Philippines, in support of national development endeavors.

Specifically, the CA aims to:

1. produce graduates who are:
   1. well – trained and skilled in the production and management of all kinds of crops (cereals, legumes, fruits, plantation vegetables, ornamentals, etc.) as well as animal industry
   2. competent agricultural extensionist
   3. experts in the management of insect pests, diseases, weeds and farming systems
   4. skilled in plant breeding and tissue culture
   5. equipped with computer skills
   6. proficient in soil analysis and management
   7. proficient in communication skills
   8. equipped with excellent entrepreneurial capabilities
2. adopt a culture of academic excellence in agricultural sciences and other related fields through active participation of faculty members and students in conducting basic and applied researches; and
3. participate actively in the extension of developed technologies to target clienteles through trainings, workshops and seminars.