Agricultural Engineering

INTRODUCTION

Agricultural Engineering Section of College of Agriculture, Dhule is established in 1962. Agricultural Engineering comprises of various branches viz. Farm Power and Machinery, Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Renewable Energy Sources and Agricultural Process Engineering. Basically, Agricultural Engineering Section involved in teaching of various subjects of Agricultural Engineering discipline to B.Sc. (Agri.) and M.Sc.(Agri.) students of this college. At present this section has developed all the facilities required for teaching of all Agril. Engineering Courses.

This section also has well established seed processing plant for processing of the seeds of this region. Seed processing plant is in operation for processing seed produced on farm of various Departments, Research Stations, KVK’s and private entrepreneurs, if any, from DHULE REGION of University, through Revolving fund provided by SEED CELL, Directorate of Research, MPKV Rahuri. This section is also looking after management of estate, workshop, ARIS cell, repairs, maintenance and management of vehicles of this college. Seed processing unit established in the year 1995-96 for processing of seeds of this region & teaching of the courses related to Agril Process Engineering. Micro Irrigation Project was designed & installed on 72 ha. Area of AC. Dhule in 2009-10.

This section has published booklets and leaflets and practical manuals on various Agril. Engg. Topics.

Booklets published

1. Methods and advantages of drip irrigation
2. Use and maintenance of modern farm implements
3. National environment awareness campaign (2014-15) Preventive measures for soil erosion
4. Watershed area development programmes

Leaflets published

1. Modern farm implements
2. Watershed area development
3. Care and maintenance of drip irrigation system

Practical manuals published

1. Renewable energy and green technology
2. Disaster management
3. Protected cultivation and post harvest technology
4. Farm power and machinery
5. Fundamentals of soil and water conservation engineering

Extension Activity

The faculty of this section is regularly publishing popular / scientific / technical / research articles through newspapers / magazines / journals.

Seminar / workshops / conferences attended

The faculty of this section is regularly attending the Seminar / workshops / conferences. The faculty attended more than 10 National and international conferences during last five years.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Besides teaching, research and extension activities, following are the other activities carried out by this department.

Vehicles

This department carries out the regular management, maintenance and repairs of college vehicles such car, Mini Bus, Jeep etc.,

Seed Processing Plant

The seed processing plant at this campus was established in the year 1995-96 for processing of the seeds of this region and for teaching of the various courses related to Agril Process Engineering. The various seeds i.e. breeders seed, foundation seed, certified seed and truthful seeds produced by the research stations, college farm and private cultivators is processed and supplied to other departments/ farmers/ state seed corporation. During year 06-07, Seed Grader Model Seed Master is purchased to improve the efficiency of the plant.

Estate Maintenance and new Construction

The repairs and maintenance of civil and electrical works of the office buildings, quarters, hostel, guesthouse etc. carries out by this department. This department also performs the supervision of new construction works. The section has supervised construction of Examination hall cum Auditorium, extension of Library building recently. The renovation works of laboratories, of different sections, work of drainage line, Quarters, Hostels etc is going on.

Water Resource Development activities

Staff members of this section had carried out the detail survey of the farm to develop water resources by considering the old resources. The section was involved in activities of development of water resources since inception of the College of Agriculture, Dhule.

1. Panzara lift
2. Deepening widening of existing well
3. Providing farm ponds and Vanarai Bandhara
4. Providing Micro irrigation systems
5. KVK farm pond and micro irrigation systems

COURSES AND CREDITS

UG Courses

a) Even Semester

b) Odd Semester

PG Courses

Faculty

Name of Faculty	Dr. Sonawane Somnath Pralhad
Mobile No.	09421610791
Email ID	spsonawane1@gmail.com
Designation	Professor of Agricultural Process Engineering Agricultural Engineering Section, College of Agriculture, DHULE – 424 004
Qualification	PhD (Agril. Engg.) in Processing and Food Engineering
Publication ( Only nos )
Scientific	30
Technical	10
Extension	15
Books	02
Any other info (very specific)
Radio Talk	06
TV Talk	02
Experience (Teaching, Research & Extension)	More than 22 years

Name of Faculty	Dr. Rakhi Vilas Meshram
Mobile No.	7767840727
Email ID	Meshram_rakhi@yahoo.in
Designation	Assistant Professor of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Agricultural Engineering Section, College of Agriculture, DHULE – 424 004
Qualification	Ph. D. in Irrigation and Drainage Engineering (Agril. Engineering)
Area of specialization	Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Publication ( Only nos )
Scientific	10
Technical	2
Extension	-
Books	-
Any other info (very specific)
International/ National Conferences attended	07
Popular Articles	10
Quality Manual	02
Training Attended	04

Faculty Position

Reserch Activity

1. The academic staff members of this section are engaged with PG research programme (M.Sc. Agril.)/M.Tech.(Agril Engg) / PhD (Agril. Engg.) for guiding the related Agril Engg Subjects or his / her respective discipline of Agril. Engg.
2. The research trials were conducted on topics like effect of plastic mulching on soil moisture and yield of vegetables effectiveness of poly film lining material to farm pond, utilization of inter space between CCT’s by different land use systems.
3. Short term research experiments were conducted by concerned staff members of the section on Micro Irrigation and Rainfall Erosivity Index.
4. Research experiments were and will be conducted by concerned staff members of the section on Agricultural processing and post harvest technology.
5. Product/Quality Testing:
   Product testing of Agril. Implements under farm mechanization scheme implemented by Z. P. of Dhule, Jalgaon, Nandurbar & Nasik districts of Dhule Region were carried out by staff members of Department.