There are 67 State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), three Central Agricultural University (CAU), four Deemed Universities (DUs) and Central Universities and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) with agriculture faculty in India. These institutions provide admission at UG level in 11 disciplines. After the completion of the 10+2 standard examination, one can either pursue BSc, BBA in Agriculture or after the completion of graduation in Science stream. In India, various National & State Level Agriculture Entrance Exams are organized every year for the admissions into Agriculture / Horticulture undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

State Agricultural Universities

Fields of Agriculture

All-India and State Level Examinations to Clear

New Initiatives in Courses

Student READY (Rural and Entrepreneurship Awareness Development Yojana)

In compliance with the Student READY programme in the year 2015, the following components are proposed for conducting the one year program in all the undergraduate discipline:

New Degree Programmes

Considering the latest scientific developments impacting food and agriculture systems, along with new societal needs and demands, the Fifth Deans’ Committee has proposed introduction of the following new courses.

All-inclusive Distribution of Courses

With an aim of inculcating the basic, principles, as well as, skills in a systematic way year wise plan has been sketched out:

List of Agriculture Institutes

Andhra Pradesh

• charya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur
• Dr YSR Horticultural University, Venkataramannagudem, Tadepalligudem
• Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupati

Assam

• Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat

Bihar

• Bihar Agricultural University, Bhagalpur
• Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agriculture University, Samastipur

Chhattisgarh

• Chhattisgarh Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Durg
• Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur

Delhi

• Indian Agricultural Research Institute

Gujarat

• Anand Agricultural University, Anand
• Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh
• Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar
• Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari
• Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Banaskantha

Haryana

• Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar
• Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar
• National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal

Himachal Pradesh

• Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur
• Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan

Jammu and Kashmir

• Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir

Jharkhand

• Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke

Karnataka

• Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar
• University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shimoga
• University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
• University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad
• University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot

Kerala

• Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur
• Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi
• Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Wayanad

Madhya Pradesh

• Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur
• Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur
• Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior

Maharashtra

• Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai
• Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli
• Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola
• Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur
• Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri
• Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani

Manipur

• Central Agricultural University, Imphal

Odisha

• Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar

Punjab

• Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana
• Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana

Rajasthan

• Agriculture University, Jodhpur
• Agriculture University, Kota
• Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur
• Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner
• Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner
• Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner

Tamil Nadu

• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore
• Tamil Nadu Fisheries University, Nagapattinam
• Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madhavaram, Chennai

Telangana

• Prof Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad
• Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, Hyderabad

Uttar Pradesh

• Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda
• Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur
• Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly
• Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Faizabad
• Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi
• Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut
• UP Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go-Ansundhan Sansthan, Mathura

Uttarakhand

• GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar
• Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Uttarakhand University of Horticulture & Forestry, Pauri Garhwal

West Bengal

• Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur
• Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Cooch Behar
• West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata

Evaluation Process

However, the papers will be set by external sources, and the respective HOD shall ensure the coverage of syllabus according to the report. On the other hand, evaluation and assessment to be done internally by the faculty other than the Course Instructor.

The post INSTITUTIONS AND EXAMINATIONS FOR AGRI-COURSES appeared first on Higher Education Plus.

In this general election year, political parties of every hue have dished out sops for farmers. Not a single year goes by without the whole nation waiting eagerly to hear from the MET department on the arrival of monsoon as even to this day, India largely depends on a good rainfall for a good economy.

For a population of 130 crores and counting, a mere lakh graduating in agri-sciences is a cause for worry say experts

Though the intelligentsia and the common man acknowledge the role of agriculture and its importance, parents, students and all who matter have still not warmed up to the idea of pursuing agricultural sciences as a career.

According to the All India Studies on Higher Education (AISHE) 2017-18 report, the total number of Agri-students passing out with an undergrad degree is less than 1 lakh and less than 1% of the Agricultural GDP in India is spent on research.

Only 21.1% of students are opting for PhD in Agriculture and Allied courses. The 5,000 plus PhD students in 67 agricultural universities tells the story of the lack of interest among the young population.

60% of the Indian population depends on agriculture for livelihood while contribution to the national GDP through agriculture is only 16-17%. Three-quarters of Indian families depend on rural incomes including allied sectors such as cattle breeding and fishing.

While agriculture when pursued with the right technology and know-how reaps benefits, the youth are attracted to IT & enabled Services. On an average, close to 13 to 15 lakh engineers graduate every year in India as opposed to just a lakh in agriculture. That in a nutshell tells the story. For a population of 130 crore and counting, a mere lakh graduating in agri-sciences is a cause for worry say experts.

What is more, according to an Indian Council of Agriculture Research 2018 report the cropping intensity registered an increase of only 25% since independence coupled with an unprecedented degradation of land (107 million ha) and groundwater resource.

The Indian economic survey 2018 predicts percentage of agriculture workers to drop by 25.7 percent by 2050.

On the government part, schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil health cards, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and National Agriculture Market (eNAM). Minimum Support Price (MSP) promise a helping hand to farmers and the Prime Minister assured that farmers income to double by 2022.

While incentives to farmers are seen as a welcome move, the greater long term challenges include market linkages, improvement in logistics and storage facilities.  Ill-informed on markets and marketing, ill-equipped to manage risk, burdened with credit & debts and is dependent on traders to reach the buyers.

The share of agriculture in the Indian economy is progressively declining. A slump in agriculture sector reflects rise in poverty and decrease in national food security. World Bank report states- “India’s food security depends on producing cereal crops, as well as increasing its production of fruits, vegetables and milk to meet the demands of a growing population with rising incomes.” To achieve this, a productive, competitive, and diversified agricultural sector will need to emerge at a steadily growing pace.

However, there are barriers. While there are networks like YPARD (Young Professionals for Agriculture Development) spread in different parts of the world, their connectivity is not dense enough to bring impact in a widely populated country like India.

The scenario in terms of agripreneurship is not very positive either. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) India Report 2016-17, 11 per cent of India’s adult population is engaged in “total early-stage entrepreneurial activity (TEA). Of those engaged in TEA, 12.1 % of them are in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and transportation. The figures show a sharp decrease in early stage entrepreneurial activity in agriculture, which used to be previously at 42 per cent.

Despite the impediments, India has sufficient natural resources required to become a pro-farming country. Around 51% of India’s geographical area is already under cultivation as compared to 11% of the world average.

In addition, a digital revolution in terms of weather forecasts, time of sowing and the exact amount of fertilisers and pesticides to be used for each crop needs to be proffered for a farmer.

Experts at World Bank say agriculture is up to 4 times more effective than any other sector in reducing poverty. Agricultural universities in India are among the best and India has been one of the first countries to adopt satellite technology – precision farming and adoption of geospatial technology.

India is racing ahead in IT, space technology and allied sectors and is touted as one of the fastest growing economy. If the prophesy is to come true that in the near future, India could be a world leader, it is imperative that students make a bee-line to agricultural universities.

The post Not reaping what they sow appeared first on Higher Education Plus.