From Desk of Associate Dean

Agriculture has been the mainstay of Indian economy since ages. The science and art of agriculture has many references in the Vedic literature and the ancient history of the mankind. The agriculture sector in India provides livelihood to about 52% of the population of the country and contributes about 15% to the Gross Domestic Product Trained human resource has been the key factor behind the Green Revolution, White Revolution, Yellow Revolution that has led India to become self-reliant in food and becoming a fast developing economy. Knowledge based, input-use efficient, eco-friendly, and high tech precision agriculture has been the next stage for which efforts have been directed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Agricultural Universities (SAU) in planning, designing and executing the national agricultural educational programmes.

Dr. C. D. Deokar

Associate Dean

 

The college of Agriculture, Dhule is established in the year 1960 to impart education in Agriculture to undergraduate students.

LOCATION

The college of agriculture, Dhule is located in the scarcity Zone at 20⁰.4’ N latitude and 74⁰ E Longitude with 258 meter altitude. The farm is located on eastern side of Dhule city on crossing of Dhule- Nagpur National Highway No.6 and National Highway No. 3 Mumbai Agra Road, thus, dividing the college farm in to four parts. Now the college farm is within the Dhule Municipal Corporation area.

LAND

The College has the total land of 242.73 hectares of which 101.82 hectares is under cultivation with Agronomy section and 36.30 hectares with ARS and Agril. School Dhule. (as per 7/12). This land is mainly used for educational, research, seed production and seed multiplication programmes. The remaining area of 62.26 ha is under buildings, roads, playground etc.

The soil series are tentatively recognized from the soil survey of College Farm and Agril. Research station, Dhule. About 145.2 ha area falls under dual series characterized by very deep, calcareous, silty clay loam, moderately well drained, dark brown to very dark brown colour. While rest falls under vani series (order—vertisol), which are very deep, calcareous, clayey, moderately drained, cracks developed over weathered basalt. As per land use capability classes, the soils of the farm come under Class I (About 40 %) and Class II (About 60 %). As regards the fertility status, the soils are generally low to medium in nitrogen, medium in phosphorus and high in potash content (map enclosed along with textural classes of farm soils). 

The total farm of this college is divided in to eight different divisions as A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H. These divisions are again divided in to plots and subplots.

A lift has been installed on Panzra river during 04.12.1981 having discharge capacity of 4.5 cusec (7246 LPM) with a command area of 142 ha. About 35 to 40 ha is irrigated with available water.

CLIMATE

The annual average rainfall at Dhule is 597 mm received in 34 rainy days. The rainfall is mainly received from June to October. July/August are the wettest months. The maximum temperature is 43.3 ^oC in May, while the average minimum temperature is 6.8 ^oC in the month of December are always experienced.

MANDATE OF INSTITUTION

1. To impart teaching to the under graduate students

2. To conduct the need based research as per the problems of the region.

3. To disseminate new technology to the farmers.

MISSION STATEMENT

The three fold activities like Teaching, Research and Extension in the various fields of agriculture assigned to the staff working under this College performing it with highest precision and latest knowledge. For effective impact of the recent technology and knowledge, emphasis is given to the student in the field of agriculture to make them “job creators rather 

than job seekers”. It also creates innovativeness among the students to serve the farming community.

GOALS

In India more than 80 per cent of the people are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. In this context, the goal of the institute is to produce the trained agriculture graduates for their self-development as well as for serving the farming community effectively.

OBJECTIVES

The required agriculture graduates for doing agriculture on the most scientific basis as to be met from this agriculture education The College undertakes three fold activities viz., Teaching, Research and Extension education. The detail objectives are as under.

Teaching

1. To impart the latest knowledge in the field of agriculture to the students.
2. To give the practical oriented knowledge to the undergraduate students for developing   self-confidence.
3. To give the latest knowledge to the student for starting agro-based business or profession leading to self-employment.

Research

Need based and location specific on research various facets of agriculture with following objectives.

1. To carry out different research activities related to the field of agriculture of this region.
2. To undertake the need based oriented research, problem solving and location specific research.
3. To solve the needs and problems of the rural community.
4. To find out the different package of practices for different crops of the region.
5. To develop or identify suitable cultivars of different crops for the region.

Extension

1. To disseminate research findings and latest knowledge of agriculture to the farmers.
2. To help and guide the extension agencies who are directly working with the farmers.
3. To plan, control and execute the extension education programmes in this jurisdiction, through the Regional Extension Center.
4. To co-ordinate and link between the University and other departments/agencies engaged in extension work.

GROWTH OF THE INSTITUTION

Initially, College was initially started in temporary structures with very limited hostel facility. Now each discipline has an independent well-equipped specious building , Except Agricultural Engineering especially there is no separate administrative building till today. Big Gymkhana building and playing grounds for each game are available near newly constructed students hostel. In the year 1970-71 Hostel building was constructed with the capacity of 332 boys students with the mess and a TV hall. From the year 1998-99 there was reservations of 20 per cent seats for admission to girls, which was subsequently increased to 30 per cent from 

1999-00 that is yet in force. The temporary structures was used as girls hostel where 80 girl students were accommodated. Construction of new girl’s hostel building for 160 girl students was completed in the year 2006. At the beginning of College, very limited residential facilities were provided in temporary structures. At present permanent residential quarters are made available in sufficient numbers.

Present situation of residential accommodation facilities

Sr. No	Category	Quarters available
		Numbers	Type
1	Associate Dean	01	A
2	Professors	10	B
3	Associate / Assistant Professors	31	C
4	Senior and Junior Research	03	C
5	Agricultural Assistant / Clerk	32	D
6	Class IV	89	E
	Total	166

Considering the limited well irrigation facilities available on College farm, a lift has been installed on Panzara river having discharge capacity of 4.5 cusec (7246 LPM) with a command area of 142 ha. However, due to paucity of water in the river only 40 ha of land could be brought under irrigation in rabi season only. The classrooms are well equipped with audio-visual aids. The classrooms and examination cell are centralized in Student’s Academy building. An old veterinary lecture hall has been converted into Auditorium-cum-Seminar with A/C and audio-visual aids and all modern facilities.

STATUS OF OTHER FACILITIES

1. ‘Panzara’ lift for irrigation.

2. A small meteorological observatory has been established at this college.

3. Seed processing unit.

4. Establishment of the Tissue Culture Laboratory is completed.

5. Trichocards produced on commercial basis

6. Trichoderma produced on commercial basis

7. Dairy section of this college is having sizable herd of 45 cattle for teaching, research and extension purpose. Milk produced on the farm is sold in the campus as per the demand of staff and remaining quantity of milk is being converted into different milk products viz. Ice cream, ‘Khoa’, ‘Lassi’, ‘Chakka’, Butter, Ghee, and Flavored milk in small quantity with available equipments

8. Central instrumentation facility in Agriculture Chemistry and Soil Science Section.

9. ARIS cell with 15 computers in Agricultural Engineering Section for teaching.

10. Internet and E-mail facility in Library for students.

11. Greenhouses for commercial floriculture practical.

12. Establishment of Agriculture Technology Information Center (ATIC) for transfer of technology is initiate

13. College gymkhana is well equipped with modern equipments for exercises.

14. Water coolers in boy’s and girl’s hostels and central office.

15. All sections have been provided air coolers.

16. Computer facilities to all the sections, except Agriculture Extension and Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science.

17. Every section is having audio-visual facilities for effective teaching.

18. Agriculture Chemistry and Soil Science section of this college carry out the analysis of soil and water samples by charging reasonable fee. However, every year about 1000 soil samples brought by RAWE students from the host farmers field and other progressive farmers in the villages are being analyzed free of cost.

19. Seed production programme by Agronomy Section.

20. Extension block in Dhule and Sakri tahsil of Dhule Dist, for extension work.

21. Wells for the irrigation

22. Nursery for the fruit crop in Horticulture Section for the plants viz. Lemon, Guava, Mango, Ber, Annona, etc on commercial basis, with the plantation of Guava, Annona, Mango, Ber, Lime, Aonla, Sapota, Pomegranate, etc.

23. The College farm is well planned with equal size plots with accessible roads.

24. Faculty members of the different disciplines guide the students appearing for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) examination. Every year the number of students passing JRF exam is increasing. During the last 5 years 25 students had passed this competitive examination.

25. Every year the student of this College are participating in the inter-collegiate, inter-university, ICAR sports and Ashwamegh.

26. Scholarship under different categories is made available to students every year.

27. Earn while learn’ scheme is in operation in this college .The needy students are getting benefit under this schemes.

28. Student’s council is formed every year by selecting the student representative from each class on the merit basis only. The Chairman student council is selected from 5th semester on merit basis.

29. Updated and printed practical manuals of 53 under graduate courses are provided at reasonable price from the academic year 2001-02 through student co-operative store of this college.

30. Very effective student counseling system is in use at this college. Every faculty member is allotted 15 students for counseling and the students are guided in academic and the other matter during the period of their degree course.

31. Faculty member are being provided finance for attending the National, International Seminar, Symposia and Workshops. They are also deputed for the attending summer / winter refresher training course.

32. Funds for the purchase of the textbooks of different subject for the use of SC and ST students are received from Special District Social Welfare Officer, Dhule (M.S.) under Book Bank Scheme of Central and State governments. As on the today College library is having 23527 books, 1300 technical journals (bound volumes since 1982), 5 Newspapers, 7 General magazines. This library is also having facility of research CD-ROMS and Internet facility.

33. The N.C.C. sub-unit of this college is under 48 MH Battalion NCC, in which 22 students are admitted every year.

34. This college also has National Social Services (NSS) unit. Every year social camps are organized in selected villages, graduating them with the experience of the social works, social leaving, and leadership etc.