Lok Sabha Question No. 4594 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-23
Subject: Contribution of Agricultural Universities
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Anurag Sharma, Vijay Kumar Dubey, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Supriya Sadanand Sule, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Rebati Tripura, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Amol Ramsing Kolhe

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4594

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23/03/2021

## CONTRIBUTION OF AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITIES

## 4594.  SHRI ANURAG SHARMA:

SHRI VIJAY KUMAR DUBEY:

SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR. S.:

SHRI REBATI TRIPURA:

DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the  contribution  of  Agriculture  Universities  in  the  development  of  agricultural  sector  in  the country;
- (b) whether the number of agricultural colleges in the country is less which has affected the growth of agriculture and its research, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  step  to  modernize  agricultural  universities  to  expedite agricultural work and its research, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  researchers  in  agricultural  universities  face  difficulties  in  doing  advance  research  work due  to  lack  of  various  technologies  in  the  universities  and  if  so,  the  remedial  action  taken  by  the Government thereon;
- (e) the total number of vacancies of researchers in these universities at present and the steps taken by the Government to fill up these vacancies in Andaman & Nicobar Islands; and
- (f) whether the Government proposes to set up an All India Body on the lines of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for agricultural colleges to monitor and better regulate their functioning, if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h

(SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) The  Agricultural  Universities  (AUs)  have  rendered  a  great  service  to  the  nation  in  the  field  of Higher Agricultural Education, Research & Extension. Their contribution to the Agricultural growth in India is note-worthy.

- The quality manpower produced in the field of agriculture and allied areas have resulted in achieving food  security  and  improved  nutrition,  and  promote  sustainable  agriculture  through  development  of newer  and  better  varieties  and  increased  yield  and  productivity.  Climate  change  impact,  adaptation policies and aligning with the on-going development programmes.
- The AUs  have contributed towards education for sustainable development: The Agriculture Universities ensures that  all  learners  acquire  knowledge  and  skills  needed  to  promote  sustainable development, Agri education & extension through knowledge, skill, and other outreach programmes which have played a major role for transition to sustainable agricultural developments.
- Skilling, Entrepreneurship & Job creation Encouraging entrepreneurship has stimulated innovation and  domestic  demand,  and  have  increased  opportunities  for  productive  employment  through  decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

(b) No, Sir.  There are 63 State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), 3 Central Agriculture Universities (CAUs),  4  Deemed  Universities  and  4  Central  Universities  with  Agriculture  Faculty  totaling  to  74, Agricultural Universities (AUs) with their 397 constituent colleges.

(c) A  centrally  sponsored  plan  scheme  ' Strengthening  and  Development  of  Higher  Agricultural Education in India ', is being implemented for maintaining and upgrading quality and relevance of higher agricultural education.  The details are as follows:

- National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) is being implemented towards modernising the agricultural universities to improve the quality and relevance in agri-higher education.
- NAHEP  has  awarded  the  sub-projects  to  58  Agricultural  Universities  (AUs)  /ICAR  institutes  to improve the modernisation through establishment of 16 Centre for  Advanced Agricultural Sciences and Technology (CAAST) on emerging thematic areas of agriculture and allied sciences, modernised more  than  150  classrooms,  conference  halls,  initiated  Institute  Industry  Interactions  Cells  (IIIC), placement  cells,  alumni  cells,  upgraded  laboratories  with  modern  equipment,  established  Career Development Centres (CDCs) and Faculty Development Centres (FDCs), incubation centres.
- Along  with  the  infrastructure  modernisation,  NAHEP  has  also  focused  on  improving  quality  and relevance  through  providing  international  trainings  to  students  and  faculties,  establishing  industryacademia linkages with national and international organisation, organising national level trainings on skill  development,  entrepreneurship,  international  languages,  emerging  areas  of  agri  and  allied, exposure visits to industry etc.

(d) No, Sir.  To improve the quality of research and for attaining excellence in specific strategic areas in  education  and  research  and  capacity  building  the  universities  are  being  supported  in  specific  Niche Areas under the Scheme ' Strengthening and Development of Higher Agricultural Education in India ' of Education Division, ICAR.

(e) Agriculture  including  Agricultural  Education  is  state  subject,  therefore  number  of  vacancies  of researchers  in  these  universities  at  present  and  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  fill  up  these vacancies  in  States  and  Andaman  &  Nicobar  Islands  are  in  purview  of  concerned  State  and  Union Territory Governments.

(f) No, Sir.  The National Education Policy-2020 (NEP-2020) recommends a regulatory system under one umbrella of the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI).

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