History

Courses related to agriculture were offered by the then Camiling Vocational Agriculture School (CVAS) as early as 1945. It was in 1965 through the merger of Tarlac National Agricultural School (TNAS) and Tarlac School of Arts and Trades (TSAT) that the program Bachelor of Science in Agriculture was offered under the Tarlac College of Technology College of Agriculture (formerly TNAS).

The College of Agriculture evolved as an Institute from a sole program under the Department of Higher Education in 1982 during the incumbency of Dr. Robustiano J. Estrada as the College President with Dr. Camilo C. Laranang as the first Dean. Pioneer programs offered included Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Bachelor of Animal Science, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, the latter then created as an autonomous Institute in 1983. Two-year courses such as Associate in Agricultural Technology and Certificate in Animal Technology were additional program offerings.

Envisioning sustainable rural development through viable and competitive agriculture, agroforestry and environmental programs, Board Resolution No. 52, s. 2000 provided for the merging of the then Institute of Agriculture and the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Studies in 2002 to become the Institute of Agriculture and Forestry (IAF) upon the ascendancy of Dr. Philip B. Ibarra as TCA President. This expanded the courses offered with the addition of Bachelor of Science in Forestry and the 2-year Forest Ranger Certificate. The verticalization of the graduate studies program was implemented through Board Resolution No. 51, s. 2002, offering the following programs: Ph.D. in Rural Development, Agronomy, Swine Production, and Poultry Production, Master of Science in Agriculture with majors in Agronomy, Horticulture, Animal Science, and Farming Systems Development, and Master of Science in Forestry and Master of Forestry.

In 2006, the offering of Bachelor of Science in Food Technology was absorbed by IAF which was brought about by the dissolution of the Institute of Home Science and Technology. In January 2016, IAF was awarded by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as Center of Development (COD) in Agriculture Education. With the conversion of the Tarlac College of Agriculture into the Tarlac Agricultural University on May 10, 2016, by virtue of RA No. 10800, IAF officially became the College of Agriculture and Forestry (CAF).

The College of Agriculture and Forestry is composed of four departments: Animal Science, Crop Science, Food Technology, and Forestry, each headed by a Chairperson. The CAF also has numerous partnerships for on-the-job training (OJT), local and abroad, and for research and extension.

Today, CAF is equipped with highly qualified and committed faculty members in the pursuit for excellence in providing education and training for sustainable agro-industrial development through instruction, research, extension and production.