Agriculture Universities

[editorialteam]

Mr. Kapil Sharma, Sr. TECHNICAL OFFICER, Central Potato Research Institute says-

No, only book based curriculum and computer based models will not work as long as students are not exposed to real situations at field level.

Central Potato Research Institute
Shimla-171001, HP INDIA
Phone: 0177-2625182, 2625073
Mob: 09914757697
Email: kapil222in@gmail.com
Web: Home | Central Potato Research Institute

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. Arun Kummar, Organic Farming Consultant, Klink Bio Organic Fertilizers, says-

Not fully satisfied. They have to teach the students about the technology, modern agriculture methods, and much more. Students have to learn fully and teach the farmers/family/relatives. But it is not happening.

Klink Bio Organic Fertilizers
SAP Marketing, No 21, 8th Cross, Cubbonpet,
Bangalore 560002.
Mobile No: +919035770885.
Email: arunnet1982@yahoo.co.in / arunnet1982@gmail.com / klinkbangalore@gmail.com

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. Ranganath Krishnan, Farmer and CEO - Goldensands Agrotech India Pvt Ltd says :

There is lot of good work being done to promote agriculture education in India. I would like to say we need to do more. Many families are excited when I start talking about agriculture. When I ask them would you send their kids for agriculture education, they pause. They would like to send their children to do medicine or IT engineering etc. Agriculture Universities need to do more in terms of promoting themselves and be present in every educational fair that happens. We need to break the myth that agriculture is done only by poor farms. Universities need to do more on bringing about a cultural change on how agriculture is perceived.

Dear Mr. Ranganath Krishnan,

As you mentioned, “ Indian agriculture universities should bring in the cultural change the way agriculture is perceived in India”, to this Er Sanjeeb Patjoshi,IPS, IG, Director, VAMNICOM replies -

Agriculture is highly regarded in rural areas but not so in urban areas. This is dichotomy. Secondly any manual work is not regarded high in India but it is highly valued in Western countries. In India dignity of labor is not equal for blue collared workers vis. a vis. white collared worker. Thirdly labor input of agriculturist is not valued high in comparison to any industrial worker because farmer is assumed to be unskilled worker in agriculture pricing.

Regards,
Er Sanjeeb Patjoshi,IPS, IG, Director, VAMNICOM

VAMNICOM
Vaikunt Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management, Pune University Road,
Pune - 411 007
Phone: 020 25701203
Email: mdksfdc@gmail.com
Web: Welcome To VAMNICOM

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. ANANT ATAKARI, INFINITY SOLUTONS LABORATORIES says-

Not at all. In agriculture universities we are producing only agents like MBAs & corporate world. They are only selling pesticides/and chemical fertilizers of big companies and they are not aware of what is happening with soil and water in such a case.

Mr. ANANT ATAKARI,
INFINITY SOLUTONS LABORATORIES
C-01 CIDCO COMMERCIAL COMPLEX,
PLOT NO 2 SECTOR 2
NERUL, NAVI MUMBAI 4000706
TEL NO: +91-22-27727818
Mobile: 98698 29088 /95948 00404
Email: anantatakari@gmail.com
Web: www.islabs.org

Dear Mr. Anant Atakari,

As you mentioned, “ Indian agriculture universities producing agents as in MBA for MNCs”, to this Er Sanjeeb Patjoshi,IPS, IG, Director, VAMNICOM replies -

May not be true for Institutes like ours as our program contents are focusing on requirements of Indian Agriculture requirements and resource persons from seed industry and soil testing and analysis are invited for academic input.

Regards,
Er Sanjeeb Patjoshi,IPS, IG, Director, VAMNICOM

VAMNICOM
Vaikunt Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management, Pune University Road,
Pune - 411 007
Phone: 020 25701203
Email: mdksfdc@gmail.com
Web: Welcome To VAMNICOM
Mr. ANANT ATAKARI,
INFINITY SOLUTONS LABORATORIES
C-01 CIDCO COMMERCIAL COMPLEX,
PLOT NO 2 SECTOR 2
NERUL, NAVI MUMBAI 4000706
TEL NO: +91-22-27727818
Mobile: 98698 29088 /95948 00404
Email: anantatakari@gmail.com
Web: www.islabs.org[/QUOTE]

 

[editorialteam]

Srinath Setty, Director, Marketing and Sales, Hosachiguru Farms says-

No. Besides teaching technology, they should also focus on what to grow, when to grow and how to market them.

Dear Mr. Shetty,

As you mentioned, “ students should be taught on how to market the produce ”, to this Er Sanjeeb Patjoshi,IPS, IG, Director, VAMNICOM replies -

Yes, students are taught in this MBA program more for marketing than growing. It is important because for self-sustenance price is very important. Secondly to prevent wastage of agri produce, food processing and marketing are vital in India.

Regards,
Er Sanjeeb Patjoshi,IPS, IG, Director, VAMNICOM

VAMNICOM
Vaikunt Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management, Pune University Road,
Pune - 411 007
Phone: 020 25701203
Email: mdksfdc@gmail.com
Web: Welcome To VAMNICOM
Mr. ANANT ATAKARI,
INFINITY SOLUTONS LABORATORIES
C-01 CIDCO COMMERCIAL COMPLEX,
PLOT NO 2 SECTOR 2
NERUL, NAVI MUMBAI 4000706
TEL NO: +91-22-27727818
Mobile: 98698 29088 /95948 00404
Email: anantatakari@gmail.com
Web: www.islabs.org[/QUOTE]

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. K. Srinivasa Rao, Director, Village Organics says -

Our universities are definitely a huge help. A blend of traditional agriculture with modern technologies is reasonable solution going forward.

Dear Mr. Rao,

As you mentioned, “ blending traditional agriculture with modern technologies”, to this Er Sanjeeb Patjoshi,IPS, IG, Director, VAMNICOM replies -

Computer applications in accounting, process automation, use of modern agricultural implements like tractor, harvester, sower, transplanter etc., modern management techniques in finance, HR etc. for personnel of cooperatives, core banking solution for cooperative banks, ERP in sugar cooperative and dairy cooperatives.

Regards,
Er Sanjeeb Patjoshi,IPS, IG, Director, VAMNICOM

VAMNICOM
Vaikunt Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management, Pune University Road,
Pune - 411 007
Phone: 020 25701203
Email: mdksfdc@gmail.com
Web: Welcome To VAMNICOM
Mr. ANANT ATAKARI,
INFINITY SOLUTONS LABORATORIES
C-01 CIDCO COMMERCIAL COMPLEX,
PLOT NO 2 SECTOR 2
NERUL, NAVI MUMBAI 4000706
TEL NO: +91-22-27727818
Mobile: 98698 29088 /95948 00404
Email: anantatakari@gmail.com
Web: www.islabs.org[/QUOTE]

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. Aashish K Jha, CEO, Pristine Mega Food Park says -

No, a lot of improvement is needed in terms of Curriculum, Industry Exposure, Student & Faculty Quality, R&D in Colleges, etc.

Dear Mr. Jha,

Ms. Jeemol Unni, Director, IRMA says -

“It is surely felt that there is urgent requirement to bring in the change in curriculum for agri related university programs where students must be given much wider practical exposure to agriculture industry”..........but as we have a large component of our program devoted to field work. However, it is a very difficult segment to organize year after year and with large batch sizes. This is perhaps one of the reasons why universities fail to do so.

Regards,

Ms. Jeemol Unni, Director, IRMA

Indian Institute of Rural Management
Post Box No. 60, Anand 388001
Gujarat India
Phone: 02692 260391
Mob: 9979891277
Email: jeemol@gmail.com
Web: https://www.irma.ac.in/

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. K. Srinivasa Rao, Director, Village Organics says -

Our universities are definitely a huge help. A blend of traditional agriculture with modern technologies is reasonable solution going forward.

Ms. Jeemol Unni, Director, IRMA says -

Many of IRMA alumni have started up organizations with a technology focus on problems they see in agriculture or other rural issues. e-technology solutions are also sought and implemented in start-ups by IRMA graduates. Many of these graduates also hire graduates from IRMA. We have recently entered into an MOU with the Anand Agricultural University, where they have innovated and patented various technologies for use in agriculture and agribusiness. IRMA has a Center for Social Entrepreneurship and this has helped students to get acquainted with the technologies of the Anand Agricultural University and take these to the villages during their fieldwork segments. This helps IRMA blend the modern technologies with the traditional agricultural sector.

Regards,

Ms. Jeemol Unni, Director, IRMA

Indian Institute of Rural Management
Post Box No. 60, Anand 388001
Gujarat India
Phone: 02692 260391
Mob: 9979891277
Email: jeemol@gmail.com
Web: https://www.irma.ac.in/

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. Ranganath Krishnan, Farmer and CEO - Goldensands Agrotech India Pvt Ltd says :

There is lot of good work being done to promote agriculture education in India. I would like to say we need to do more. Many families are excited when I start talking about agriculture. When I ask them would you send their kids for agriculture education, they pause. They would like to send their children to do medicine or IT engineering etc. Agriculture Universities need to do more in terms of promoting themselves and be present in every educational fair that happens. We need to break the myth that agriculture is done only by poor farms. Universities need to do more on bringing about a cultural change on how agriculture is perceived.

Dear Mr. Ranganath,

Universities helping in bringing cultural change - to this Ms. Jeemol Unni, Director, IRMA responds -

Yes, agricultural universities and rural Management institutions like IRMA should work to improve the perception of students with regard to agriculture. A value addition in the degrees, a combination of agriculture and management could help to do that.


Regards,

Ms. Jeemol Unni, Director, IRMA

Indian Institute of Rural Management
Post Box No. 60, Anand 388001
Gujarat India
Phone: 02692 260391
Mob: 9979891277
Email: jeemol@gmail.com
Web: https://www.irma.ac.in/

 

[editorialteam]

Srinath Setty, Director, Marketing and Sales, Hosachiguru Farms says-

No. Besides teaching technology, they should also focus on what to grow, when to grow and how to market them.

Ms. Jeemol Unni, Director, IRMA says, -

Marketing is a key subject at IRMA. We definitely teach students on how to market agricultural produce.

Regards,
Ms. Jeemol Unni, Director, IRMA

Indian Institute of Rural Management
Post Box No. 60, Anand 388001
Gujarat India
Phone: 02692 260391
Mob: 9979891277
Email: jeemol@gmail.com
Web: https://www.irma.ac.in/

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. ANANT ATAKARI, INFINITY SOLUTONS LABORATORIES says-

Not at all. In agriculture universities we are producing only agents like MBAs & corporate world. They are only selling pesticides/and chemical fertilizers of big companies and they are not aware of what is happening with soil and water in such a case.

Mr. ANANT ATAKARI,
INFINITY SOLUTONS LABORATORIES
C-01 CIDCO COMMERCIAL COMPLEX,
PLOT NO 2 SECTOR 2
NERUL, NAVI MUMBAI 4000706
TEL NO: +91-22-27727818
Mobile: 98698 29088 /95948 00404
Email: anantatakari@gmail.com
Web: www.islabs.org

Ms. Jeemol Unni, Director, IRMA says -

I guess the demand for agricultural graduates is mainly from the MNCs and these are perhaps the more remunerative jobs on offer hence agricultural graduates join them. Yes, it does major damage to the soil and water, which is not a concern for the MNCs. At IRMA our goal is to promote sustainable, eco-friendly and equitable socio economic development of the rural people. To that extend we restrict placement in corporates unless their work is in tune with IRMA's mission.

Regards,
Ms. Jeemol Unni, Director, IRMA

Indian Institute of Rural Management
Post Box No. 60, Anand 388001
Gujarat India
Phone: 02692 260391
Mob: 9979891277
Email: jeemol@gmail.com
Web: https://www.irma.ac.in/

 

[editorialteam]

Sameer A.Sirdeshpande (Lingdhal) says-

Basic concern of Agri Universities has to be more LAND oriented course work rather than LAB oriented which is Vice-Versa at this moment of time. There has to be more LAB TO LAND Programs from the Universities about the recent developments. Farmers must be taught about basics of soil health. One should motivate farmers to carryout correct agricultural practices without affecting soil health and environment. Agri/Horticulture graduates should comeback to farming and work at grassroot level along with their villagers.

Sameer A.Sirdeshpande (Lingdhal)
Alka Amla Products
Shop No.8
Taluka Panchayat Complex
RAMDURG-591123
Dist: Belgaum, Karnataka
Cell: +91 99722 18328
Email - sameerhort@gmail.com

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. M.K.Shajath Ali Managing Partner, says-

Absolutely no. I am telling you about this year’s position in Tamil Nadu. Those who did not get the seat for medicine either MBBS or B.VSC, opted for B.Sc- Agri. This year’s students and the parents opted for B.Sc-Agri, because one who scored high in IAS is the one who studied B.Sc Agri. This year’s students who opted for B.Sc Agri wanted to get in to the IAS, I think.

Mr. Shajath Ali
We Care Realtors
3/1, Valli Nagar, Jothi Talkies South Road - 1, Ammapet, Salem - 636 003, -
Tamil Nadu India
Mob: 9150459763
Email: shajath@gmail.com

Dr Vijay Singh Thakur, Vice Chancellor, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry replies -

It is not true. Agriculture due to its fast emergence as a commercial venture is attracting many bright students which earlier were opting for other professional courses like medical & engineering. This transformation into agriculture has created many income and employment opportunities. Moreover, this subject is widening its scope towards biotechnology, microbiology and basic sciences like nanotechnology. As a result bright students irrespective of their gender are attracted towards this vocational course. They develop passion towards this subject once they opt and get admitted in agriculture sciences. Basically, agriculture is meeting both the requirement of passion and jobs among students.

Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry,
Nauni, Solan (HP)-173230
Fax: 01792-252242, Phone No. 01799-252363

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. P. Damodarasamy, Director Sanjay India Agro Solutions says -

They are not connected to the farmers in a big way. They are not proactive in their approach. They do not understand, analyze, solve the problems and potentials and disseminate the solution proactively. Much of what they do today is only post-mortem of the problems of the farmers, which is not very helpful as it should be. The linkage between the farmers and such Universities are remote and needs to be very much improved. Further these universities also should try to use the local and traditional knowledge about farming techniques, soil, climate, water resources etc. which is highly localized. We understand from agricultural records that our yield in 1750s from an acre was much more than what it is today with all these universities. It is recorded there are so many thousands of strains of rice most of which have gone out of the fields because of neglect of these universities. Probably they have not been able to make any great impact on the farmers because they are trying to ape western agricultural techniques here without indigenizing and improvising them to suit the local needs and traditions. They want to cut the feet to suit the shoes they have made (learned from western books).

Sanjay India Agro Solutions
#1, Dhruva Tara, 241, Dr.Rajendra Prasad Road
Tatabad, Coimbatore – 641 012, India
Phone: 0422-2493786
Mob: 97914 12222
Email: smdadvisory@gmail.com
Web: SMD Consultancy - Chartered Accountant Services,Auditor Services,Finance Consultant Services

Dr Vijay Singh Thakur, Vice Chancellor, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry says -

Yes, we are connected with farmers. The university has five Regional Horticultural Research Stations and ten Satellite Research Stations for solving the problems of the farmers of the rural area besides four KVKs located in districts of Solan, Shimla, Chamba and Kinnaur. The detail of the research stations is given below:-

Agroclimatic Distribution of Regional Research Stations of the University
Sr. No Regional Station Districts Altitude Range (m amsl) Agroecological Zone
1 RHRS, Jachh Kangra 450-650 Sub-Montane & Low Hills Sub Tropical (Zone-I)
2 RHFRS, Bhota Hamirpur 450-650 Sub-Montance and Low Hills Sub-tropical (Zone-I)
3 RHRS, Bajaura Kullu 651-1800 Mid-Hills Sub Humid (Zone-II)
4 RHRS, Mashobra Shimla 1801-2700 High-Hills Temperate Wet (Zone-III)
5 RHRS, Sharbo Kinnaur 2450-4000 High-Hills Temperate Dry(Zone-IV)

Dr Vijay Singh Thakur, Vice Chancellor
Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry
Nauni, Solan (HP)-173230
Fax: 01792-252242, Phone No. 01799-252363
Web: Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticultuer & Forestry, Solan (HP)
Email : thakurvs@satyam.net.in

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. ANANT ATAKARI, INFINITY SOLUTONS LABORATORIES says-

Not at all. In agriculture universities we are producing only agents like MBAs & corporate world. They are only selling pesticides/and chemical fertilizers of big companies and they are not aware of what is happening with soil and water in such a case.

Mr. ANANT ATAKARI,
INFINITY SOLUTONS LABORATORIES
C-01 CIDCO COMMERCIAL COMPLEX,
PLOT NO 2 SECTOR 2
NERUL, NAVI MUMBAI 4000706
TEL NO: +91-22-27727818
Mobile: 98698 29088 /95948 00404
Email: anantatakari@gmail.com
Web: www.islabs.org

Dr Vijay Singh Thakur, Vice Chancellor, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry says –

The students produced by the university are technically capable of understanding the rational use of the pesticide and chemical fertilizers. Complete knowledge is imparted by the universities but however due to the demand of their job providers, these students may be acting like MBA agents for Corporate world. It is specifically true because they are working at low level of work profiles and are not made a part of the decision making process.

Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry
Nauni, Solan (HP)-173230
Fax: 01792-252242, Phone No. 01799-252363
Web: Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticultuer & Forestry, Solan (HP)
Email : thakurvs@satyam.net.in

 

[editorialteam]

Sameer A.Sirdeshpande (Lingdhal) says-

Basic concern of Agri Universities has to be more LAND oriented course work rather than LAB oriented which is Vice-Versa at this moment of time. There has to be more LAB TO LAND Programs from the Universities about the recent developments. Farmers must be taught about basics of soil health. One should motivate farmers to carryout correct agricultural practices without affecting soil health and environment. Agri/Horticulture graduates should comeback to farming and work at grassroot level along with their villagers.

Sameer A.Sirdeshpande (Lingdhal)
Alka Amla Products
Shop No.8
Taluka Panchayat Complex
RAMDURG-591123
Dist: Belgaum, Karnataka
Cell: +91 99722 18328
Email - sameerhort@gmail.com

Dr Vijay Singh Thakur, Vice Chancellor, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry says –

With the creation of this university, there is an all round development in horticulture and forestry, thus meeting the requirement of farmers and orchardists of the state. The university has also developed human resource through quality education who are now serving the community at various platforms and prestigious institutions of the country besides solving the problems of poor farmers of the state by developing technology on various aspects of horticulture and forestry. This university has emerged as a model institution for the hill universities of India and paradigm resource at international level. However, the technology dissemination and adoption by the end users can be hastened by involving public private partnerships.

Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry
Nauni, Solan (HP)-173230
Fax: 01792-252242, Phone No. 01799-252363
Web: Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticultuer & Forestry, Solan (HP)
Email : thakurvs@satyam.net.in

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. Mukesh Gupta, Exec. Director, Morarka Foundation, Jaipur says-

No, all the agriculture universities should be immediately auctioned to the private sector. In turn private sector should be supported by government to run the university on 5 year term lease or on mutually agreed terms. A lot of improvement is in fact needed in Curriculum, student, Industry Exposure, & quality of Faculty etc. in the present state of universities in India.
The agriculture scientists and faculties in the universities should feel a pressure on them to perform.

M. R. Morarka GDC Rural Research Foundation
Vatika Road, Off Tonk Road,
Jaipur-302022
Phone : 0141-2771100, 2771101
Mob: 98290 12501
Email: piyush@morarkamail.com
Web: Morarka NGO, Rural Research Foundation, India

Dr Vijay Singh Thakur, Vice Chancellor, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry says

This point has been taken care in the IVth Deans Committee Meeting held at Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP). The course curricula have been implemented after seeking the opinion of different stakeholders.

Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry
Nauni, Solan (HP)-173230
Fax: 01792-252242, Phone No. 01799-252363
Web: Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticultuer & Forestry, Solan (HP)
Email : thakurvs@satyam.net.in

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. Ranganath Krishnan, Farmer and CEO - Goldensands Agrotech India Pvt Ltd says :

There is lot of good work being done to promote agriculture education in India. I would like to say we need to do more. Many families are excited when I start talking about agriculture. When I ask them would you send their kids for agriculture education, they pause. They would like to send their children to do medicine or IT engineering etc. Agriculture Universities need to do more in terms of promoting themselves and be present in every educational fair that happens. We need to break the myth that agriculture is done only by poor farms. Universities need to do more on bringing about a cultural change on how agriculture is perceived.

Prof. L. K. Vaswani – Director, KIIT School of Rural Management replies -
As long as agriculture, education is promoted without a substantial element of entrepreneurship, it will not find its place in one of the desired careers for the younger generation of entrepreneurs. So far, agriculture is adopted as a profession by inheritance.

KIIT School of Rural Management
Krishna Campus-7, KIIT University,
Bhubaneswar:-751024, Orissa
INDIA.
Mob: 099372 20212
Email: lkv@ksrm.ac.in
Web: :: KSRM ::

 

[editorialteam]

Mr. ANANT ATAKARI, INFINITY SOLUTONS LABORATORIES says-

Not at all. In agriculture universities we are producing only agents like MBAs & corporate world. They are only selling pesticides/and chemical fertilizers of big companies and they are not aware of what is happening with soil and water in such a case.

Mr. ANANT ATAKARI,
INFINITY SOLUTONS LABORATORIES
C-01 CIDCO COMMERCIAL COMPLEX,
PLOT NO 2 SECTOR 2
NERUL, NAVI MUMBAI 4000706
TEL NO: +91-22-27727818
Mobile: 98698 29088 /95948 00404
Email: anantatakari@gmail.com
Web: www.islabs.org

Prof. L. K. Vaswani – Director, KIIT School of Rural Management replies -

The MBAs from agriculture universities join corporate world, primarily agro-input companies who offer them managerial career and attractive salary package. On the other hand the organizations promoting holistic / sustainable agriculture are concentrated in development sector and lack economies of scale like corporate sectors. Therefore they are not able to attract MBA with a high package.

KIIT School of Rural Management
Krishna Campus-7, KIIT University,
Bhubaneswar:-751024, Orissa
INDIA.
Mob: 099372 20212
Email: lkv@ksrm.ac.in
Web: :: KSRM ::

 

[editorialteam]

Mrs. GIRIJA A.M, CEO, Insight Quality Consultancy Services says-


No. Lots of Students without interest in agriculture are studying there. Agriculture should be taken as a passion, not as a job.

Insight Quality Consultancy Services
62/5621, "Prabhat", First Floor
T.D. Road, Ernakualm
Pin: 682011, Kerala, India
Mob: 97440 73456
Email: girijakochi@gmail.com
Web: Insight Quality Consultancy Services - Consultants in India for ISO 9001: 2000, HACCP, SA 8000, ISO 14001, ISO 22000, ISO 27001 certificate and Six Sigma Systems.

Prof. L. K. Vaswani – Director, KIIT School of Rural Management replies -

The above statement is true not only in agriculture but in courses like Rural Management as well. The students with passion for such profession face entry barriers both at entry level and in choosing careers.


KIIT School of Rural Management
Krishna Campus-7, KIIT University,
Bhubaneswar:-751024, Orissa
INDIA.
Mob: 099372 20212
Email: lkv@ksrm.ac.in
Web: :: KSRM ::