Page 94 - EW May 2023_Neat

Cover Story EW India Government University Rankings 2023-24

INDIA’S TOP GOV. AGRICULTURE VARSITIES

tural University, Ludhiana to #2.
ICAR’s National Dairy Research
Institute, Karnal is ranked #3 and
the Top 5 is completed by GB Pant
University of Agriculture and
Technology, Pantnagar jointly
ranked #4 with the Gujarat govern-
ment backed Navsari Agricultural
University (#4) and Ch. Charan
Singh Haryana Agricultural Uni-
versity, Hisar at #5 (#3).
Dr. Z.P. Patel, Vice Chancellor
of Navsari Agricultural Univer-
sity (NAU), Gujarat is delighted
that the state government promoted
NAU is ranked among India’s Top 5
agriculture universities for two years
consecutively with high scores on the
parameters of competence of faculty,
NAU VC Z.P. Patel (right): extension services pride curriculum and pedagogy and place-
ments.
Although they dominate this sector, government agriculture “We are happy that our concerted
universities have not been able to sufficiently raise per and continuous efforts to provide qual-
ity agricultural education and farmer-
hectare yields to best global levels oriented frontline extension services
have borne fruit. Our 400 expert fac-
ndia’s government agriculture media enquiries into their governance ulty, healthy teacher-student ratio and
universities are one of the big dis- and performance. Typically, they are strong research focus — 25 research
appointments of the post-inde- defined by huge establishment expens- centres sited in 15 locations statewide
Ipendence national development es, low tuition fees for students, and conduct rigorous research on mandate
effort. Although the apex-level In- large research budgets. And while their crops such as paddy, sugarcane, cot-
dian Council of Agriculture Research model farms sustained with best fertil- ton, sorghum, small millets, etc — have
(ICAR), Delhi is credited with having iser and pesticide inputs showcase im- given us a good reputation. Since in-
master-minded the Green Revolu- pressively high yields, they maintain ception, NAU has developed over 75
tion of the 1970s, it received great minimal connect with rural communi- varieties in 21 crops and more than
help from American agro-scientist Dr. ties and farmers. Some years ago, they 550 technologies. We also have an ex-
Norman Borlaug, who introduced the abolished their ‘extension services’, i.e, cellent placement record with 60-plus
Mexican dwarf wheat variety to India. application of research and laboratory companies visiting for campus recruit-
Yet despite the success of the Green know-how in wider fields beyond their ment every year,” says Patel.
Revolution, the plain truth is that aver- campuses. In particular, Patel takes pride in
age wheat and rice yields in India are Therefore persuading sample re- NAU’s farmer extension services and
a fifth of China and a tenth of France, spondents to rate and rank agricul- network. “NAU has made huge efforts
Ukraine etc, and although 60 percent ture universities was an arduous task to reach out to farmers. We have es-
of the population is employed in the and is based on woolly perceptions. tablished five Krishi Vigyan Kendras
agriculture sector, it contributes a That said, the 2023-24 league table covering South Gujarat which have
mere 17 percent of GDP. of India’s government agriculture organised over 30,000 activities to
This situation is not helped by the universities has experienced a major benefit local farmers. Moreover, 11
media-aversion of ICAR (estb.1929) churn. The apex-level ICAR, Delhi experiential learning units funded by
and its affiliated 71 government agri- ranked #2 last year, has been elevated ICAR provide hands-on training and
culture universities. They have trans- to India #1 in 2023-24, pushing the earn-while-you-learn opportunities to
formed into fortresses which resist all state government Punjab Agricul- our students,” says Patel.

94 EDUCATIONWORLD MAY 2023