Lok Sabha Question No. 54 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: Setting-up of Agricultural College
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Anita Nagarsingh Chouhan

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 54

TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  FEBRUARY, 2026

## SETTING-UP OF AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

*54. SMT. ANITA NAGARSINGH CHOUHAN:

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

- (a) whether Alirajpur district in Madhya Pradesh -a predominantly tribal-populated area under the Ratlam-Jhabua-Alirajpur Lok Sabha Constituency which relies heavily upon  rain-fed  agriculture -currently  lacks  any  functional  Agricultural  College  thereby compelling the local students, particularly tribal youth, to migrate to other districts for pursuing agriculture education;
- (b) whether any survey has been conducted/proposal drafted by the Government to ascertain the  necessity  of  education,  research  and  skill  development  in  the  field  of agriculture in Alirajpur district and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to set up an Agricultural College in the said district  to promote  agriculture  education  and  to  connect  local  farmers  with  modern agricultural techniques in this region; and
- (d) if so, the proposed timeline thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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(a) to (d): The Alirajpur is a tribal population dominated district of Madhya Pradesh. Presently  there is no  agricultural  college.  However,  there  are three agriculture universities  namely:  (i)  Jawaharlal  Nehru  Krishi  Vishwa  Vidyalaya,  Jabalpur  (11 constituent colleges), (ii) Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior (5 constituent colleges), (iii) Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, (6 constituent colleges) are providing agricultural education, fulfilling research  and extension needs of the Madhya  Pradesh  state including Alirajpur Lok  Sabha Constituency . In addition, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University (RLBCAU), located at Jhansi has the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Datia, Madhya Pradesh.

In addition to above, there are 77 agricultural universities (agriculture, veterinary, horticulture,  forestry,  fisheries,  organic  etc.),  which  includes  66  State  Agricultural Universities  (SAUs),  03  Central  Agricultural  Universities  (CAUs),  04  ICAR-  Institutes having Deemed-to-be-University (DUs) status and 04 Central Universities with agriculture  faculty  which  are  imparting  agricultural  education  in  the  country,  including students from Alirajpur district of Madhya Pradesh. Of the total seats in these agricultural universities, 20% seats in under-graduate, and 30% seats in post-graduate and Ph.D., are under ICAR quota. For Scheduled tribe candidates, the reservation is as per the Government of India's guidelines.

Agriculture including agricultural education is a state subject.  Therefore, no survey has been conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in Alirajpur district of Madhya Pradesh on aspects related to the necessity of education, research and skill development in the field of agriculture.

Presently, there is no proposal with ICAR to set up an agriculture college in the Alirajpur district of Madhya Pradesh. State Government can open new agriculture college keeping in view the need of the region.

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