Agriculture is crucial to the Indian economy. The impact of Agriculture on society contributes in many ways, including providing jobs, supporting the livelihoods of people through food, providing raw materials for the required products, and trading in building strong economies.
India is an agricultural powerhouse on a global scale. It is the world’s largest producer of pulses, spices, and milk, as well as the largest cattle herd (buffaloes) and the largest area under cotton cultivation, wheat and rice. It ranks second in the production of rice, wheat, cotton, sugarcane, farmed fish, sheep and goat meat, fruit, vegetables, and tea. Hence, agriculture in India plays a significant role in national and international welfare.
With a strong foundation in agricultural education, Anand Agricultural University in Gujarat is the leading State University, founded in 1937. AAU was established to assist farmers in three areas: education, research, and extension activities in agriculture, horticulture engineering, product processing, and home science. The university wants to imbibe the knowledge of Agriculture into the young generation by undertaking its research in the newest forms with the help of technology. It aims to bring innovation to the services rendered in farming activities.
The Vice Chancellor of the University Dr. K. B. Kathiria, a Visionary Leader, is a focused and influential person. He plays a key role in achieving the goals of the institute and also bringing to the table major ambitious projects.
About Anand Agricultural University
The university was founded in 1937 on the edifice of the new Institute of Agriculture Anand (IAA). This was the dream institute of Shri Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr. K. M. Munshi. Later, the Government took over and named it Gujarat Agricultural University (GAU). Under the Gujarat Agricultural Universities Act, 2004 Gujarat Government established Anand Agricultural University (AAU).
Extension & Expansion
AAU’s core philosophy is agricultural education. The university’s growth and expansion keep them going positively. Currently, there are seven constituent colleges, 1 PG institute, five polytechnics, 25 on-campus and 23 off-campus research stations, and 17 technology transfer centres operating in 9 districts across three agro-climatic zones in Central Gujarat. In addition to it, AAU also offers six master’s and Doctorate programs, five undergraduate programs, and four diploma programs.
AAU collaborates with renowned foreign universities, including Copenhagen University in Denmark, the University of Alberta in Canada, and Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University in the United States, as well as Astrakhan University in Russia and the University of Venda (UNIVEN) in South Africa.
AAU not only expanded on the institute level but also made an expansion in technologies. The growth of university keeps expanding as it expands on new technologies in addition to traditional research. It has introduced innovations such as soil health cards, nanotechnology, natural farming, and aromatic and medicinal plant research.
Agricultural produce processing, food processing, farm machinery design, and development are the key areas of allied research at AAU. Apart from this, there is a mega seed project called ANUBHAV. This includes seed production and supply, bio fertiliser production unit, pesticide referral laboratory, micronutrient research centre, plant tissue culture laboratory, experiencing learning unit cum incubation centre for food processing, food safety testing laboratory, and so on.
The AAU Extension Education Institute is one of the four premier institutes in India for training extension personnel. AAU’s extension activities include certificate courses, special training programs for farmers, extension worker training centres, and advisory services. Since 1948, the monthly vernacular farm magazine ‘Krishigovidya’ has been published.
Amenities – The students in the college can reside in the hostels that also include sports facilities, both indoor and outdoor. They are also provided a central library and regional e-library to boost their knowledge. For conducting activities, and meetings on a large medium, they have an auditorium, and with the view to take care of students’ health, a well-equipped health centre is allotted.
AAU’s Mission, Vision and Values
Mission & Vision
AAU’s vision is to make Gujarat and India agriculturally prosperous. Working on its greatest mission for the state and country, AAU is making everything possible with its three key factors. By providing teaching, researching, and extension of services. Going with the current demand, it is opting for innovative technologies and developing excellent human resources for farming communities.
Values
Imparting education and developing quality human resources, advancing learning through research, and Spreading knowledge through research to stakeholders and farmers through extension education. These values also include the promotion of partnerships and linkages with National and International Institutions and the development of cutting-edge technologies.
Outcomes of Objectives
Every student in AAU has an open platform to portray their potential and be responsible citizens by applying their learnings and skills gained to help society. Agriculture, horticulture, agricultural engineering, food processing technology, agricultural information technology, agribusiness management, and other fields at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and vocational levels. AAU offers high-quality education. It also promotes the integration of teaching, research, extension, and training activities to increase agricultural productivity and thus serve as a premier educational and research organisation in Gujarat.
AAU alumni have a global presence, providing value-added services in diverse sectors such as agriculture, foods, agricultural engineering, Agri-management, dairy, veterinary, information technology, banking, rural development, education, research, and government administrative services.
Dr. K. B. Kathiria – The Visionary Leader
“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”– Warren G. Bennis
Dr. K.B. Kathiria is a dedicated educator and visionary leader. His powerful personality played a crucial role in achieving AAU’s goals and ambitious projects. His concentrated efforts at AAU to increase farmer income through technology transfer and incubation centres/start-up units are incredible. He is a key policy advisor for the Gujarat government and the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) on the implementation of innovative ideas.
Since India’s pre-independence days, AAU has had a glorious history and a strong legacy. As a result, many visionary leaders and dignified personalities have contributed to its position at the forefront of agricultural development in the country.
The Vice Chancellor of Anand Agricultural University, Dr. K.B. Kathiria, has dedicated more than 37 years to multiple positions in Agricultural Education and Research. Earlier, for eight years, he was the Director of Research and Dean of Postgraduate Studies at Anand Agricultural University. He has created over 35 agricultural technologies for the benefit of farming and scientific communities. Most importantly, as a plant breeder, he contributed to 39 crop varieties/hybrids, including wheat, vegetables, and chickpeas.
Development Programs
As per the recommendations of the ICAR 5th Deans’ Committee and ICAR Broad Subject Matter Area Committees, all the courses in AAU are offered.
Not just the academic theory but also students in AAU are exposed to Student READY (Rural Entrepreneurship Awareness Development Yojana) program, RAWE (The Rural Agricultural Work Experience), and ELP (Experiential Learning Program). These are laboratory-based courses helping students to develop hands-on skills, entrepreneurship capabilities, and readiness for employability.
Agriculture Analytics first of AAU’s kind master’s program will be launched this year in collaboration with the Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology in Gandhinagar and the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing in Dehradun.
Global Exposure – AAU, this year, has organised 40 students’ visits to foreign universities under the NAHEP-CAAST project. This is a continuous project at AAU; the university encourages its students for such exposure visits.
Placement Cell – Each AAU College’s Placement Cell plays an important role in locating job opportunities for graduating students by maintaining contact with reputable recruiting firms and establishments. It organises career development and personality development programs regularly.
Notable Achievements and Accreditations
Being the remarkable university that has everything for its students, AAU has:
- All the programs offered in the college and constituent colleges are accredited by the National Agricultural Education Accreditation Board, ICAR.
- AAU is ranked 4th among all Universities, as per the ATAL Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievement (ARIIA – 2020) in the category of Government and Government Aided Universities.
- AAU has been ranked 20th under the category of Agricultural Universities by the ICAR, New Delhi, in the year 2020.
- AAU has released 89 high-yielding crop varieties and licensed technologies like Liquid Biofertilizer and Date Palm Tissue Culture to various organisations.
- Centre for Agricultural Market Intelligence was established by the university under the prestigious ICAR-World Bank-funded NAHEP-CAAST Project.
- Anand Agricultural University has established a Section-8 company for supporting agri-startups and, so far, incubated about 100 agri-startups, 24 of which have received a grant of more than Rs. 2 crores.
- The Dagri breed of cow registered by AAU has been registered by the Breed Registration committee of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) on 24 January 2020, and a certificate awarded to the Hon. Vice Chancellor, AAU by the National Bureau of Animal Genetics Research (NBAGR), Karnal.
