Saudi Arabia is one of the largest Arab countries. It occupies about 2.250.000 km. Yet cultivated land does not exceed 3% of land area. Agriculture contributes substantially to the national income and over 65% of population in Saudi Arabia are directly or indirectly involved in agriculture. Therefore, it is necessary to direct human, land and water resources for the benefit of an extensive agricultural improvement that keeps the contribution of agriculture sector to the national income at high level. To achieve this goal, there was a need for an advanced agricultural institution. College of Agriculture was then founded at king Saud University in 1965 and the first group of students was admitted at the same year.
The college prepares students for the provision of agriculture by well education and training in various agricultural fields. Many Saudi agricultural experts and researchers have graduated from the college of Agriculture. They are now forming the base of the current agricultural development in the Kingdom, which resulted in an expansion in cultivated area and an increase in productivity of principle crops.
During the academic year 1982-1983, a new major in nutrition and home economics was founded at the college of agriculture. This major provided the Saudi girl students with an educational opportunity preparing them for the provision of social care, nutrition within the context of our Islamic rules and social traditions. Nutrition and home economics was first started with 31 female student but the number increased the next year to 69 students.
Distinguished students are given the opportunity to continue their studies in the college leading for the degree of Master of Science in various majors of agricultural sciences. The university board has agreed this year to establish the first Ph.D. program in animal production.
College of Agriculture was situated in a beautiful palace in Olaishah, a neighborhood in western part of Riyadh City. In 1984, the college was moved to its new location along with other university colleges at King Saud University campus in Diriah road. In campus, it occupies building number 2, a three story building. Offices of the college administration, heads of departments, faculty members, administration of Agricultural research and experiment station, Agriculture research center and agricultural extension center are located at the second floor of the building. Lecture halls, teaching and research laboratories are situated at the first and ground floors. The design of the building fits to the best modern architecture. Laboratories are facilitated with modern equipment and apparatuses. This is reflected in students achievements and quality of postgraduate and faculty research.