Lok Sabha Question No. 3216 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-22
Subject: Agricultural Colleges
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Gautham Sigamani Pon, C.N. Annadurai, Manjulata Mandal, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar, Dhanush M Kumar, Ganesan Selvam

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3216

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 nd  MARCH, 2022

## AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES

3216.  SHRI GAUTHAM SIGAMANI PON:

SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI:

SHRIMATI MANJULATA MANDAL:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

SHRI SELVAM G.:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  number  of  agricultural  colleges  in  the  country  is  much  lesser  as compared to the number of engineering/medical colleges, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b)  the  number  of  agricultural  colleges  functioning  at  present  in  Tamil  Nadu  and Maharashtra;
- (c) whether the Union Government has received several proposals from Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra for setting up of Agricultural Universities/Colleges;
- (d) if so, the details thereof including the number of proposals received during the last three years along with the action taken thereon;
- (e) the details of research undertaken by agricultural colleges during each of the last three years and the current year and its contribution in promotion of the agricultural sector; and
- (f)  whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  efforts  through  the  Indian  Council  of Agricultural Research to ensure employability and quality of graduates produced by various  agricultural  universities  and  colleges  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) A total of three hundred fifty-seven (357) colleges of agriculture and its allied subject governed by Agriculture Universities (AUs) exist in the country

The agriculture including agricultural education is a state subject, therefore, state governments establish agriculture universities/ colleges as per their own requirement.

(b) The number of constituent agricultural colleges of AUs presently functioning in the states of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are 22 and 41 respectively.

(c)  & (d): Two references from Hon'ble Members of Parliament have been received for setting up of Agricultural Universities/Colleges in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra during last three years. These references have been examined and appropriately replied.

(e) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)- Agricultural University System has carried out research in diverse areas of agriculture during last three years and current year resulting in achieving  food security and improved nutrition, high quality seeds, sustainable agriculture through development of newer and better varieties and increased yield and productivity, reducing climate change impact, adaptation policies, new animal vaccines, better breeds in poultry, milch animals, waste reduction aligning with the on-going development programs, awareness among stakeholders. Apart from the above, the agricultural colleges/universities have produced quality manpower in the  field  of  agriculture  and  allied  areas  who  contributed  a  lot  towards  agricultural research in the Country.

The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  along  with  AUs  has contributed to the science-led growth and development of agriculture in the country. The high yielding varieties of field crops and horticultural crops have been the hallmark of the Council that contribute to food and nutritional security of the country. Taking this effort forward, 562 new varieties of field crops were released during the last two years. Through various research and technology initiatives in agriculture enabled the country to increase the production of food grains by 5.6 times, horticultural crops by 10.5 times, fish by 16.8 times, milk by 10.4 times and eggs by 52.9 times thus making a visible impact  on  the  national  food  and  nutritional  security.  It  has  played  a  major  role  in promoting excellence in research and higher education in agriculture.

(f) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has established 485 experiential learning units with a state of art facilities to encourage the graduates for self-employment and entrepreneurship. Placement cell has also been established in each university for better employability.

The  Department  of  Agricultural  Research  &  Education  (DARE)  provides 'Accreditation'  to  university  /institution/  organization  or  faculty/  college/  school  of agriculture  of  the  institution  or  any  course/  programme/  degree  offered  by  such institutions in agriculture and allied subject for quality assurance in higher agricultural education.

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