Kumasi, Aug 16, GNA - The Academic Board of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has given approval to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources to start a Master of Science programme in Natural Resource and Environmental Governance, beginning this academic year.

Professor William Otoo Ellis, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), said proposals had also been made to start Bachelor of Science Programmes in Agro Forestry, Environmental Conservation and Natural Resource Entrepreneurship.

Other courses lined up by the College include Wood Production Engineering, Natural Resource Management in Wild Life, Aquaculture and Water Shed Management.

He was addressing the 46th congregation of the College in Kumasi on Thursday.

In all 438 students graduated with 20 of them receiving first class honors.

Prof Ellis noted the crucial role played by research in agricultural development and said they would continue to introduce courses relevant to the socio-economic progress of the nation.

He put total investments made towards the improvement of infrastructure at the College, last year, at more than GH¢1.3 million.

This went into the construction of buildings, laboratory and the provision of field equipment, chemicals and vehicles.

The Vice Chancellor said enrolment at the faculties of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources had significantly gone up in recent times due to the introduction of innovative programmes.

The Faculty of Agriculture, for instance, saw enrolment rise from 2,373 in 2011, to 2,572 in 2012, - an increase of nearly 10 per cent.

This, he said, was the result market-driven programmes introduced.

Mr Samuel Sarpong, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), repeated the government's determination to invest in agricultural research and technology to assure the nation of food security.

GNA