Reforms in Agriculture Education?

Reforms in Agriculture Education?

India is the agrarian country. About 58% population of the country depends on the agriculture. Agriculture is the largest private sector business of the country. It contributes about 17% in the GDP. Hence Agriculture education is the very important aspect in the development of the agriculture. India is the only country in the world having largest agriculture scientists. The need of the agriculture education was identified by the British Government. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, the noted thinker, social reformer and agriculturist of Pune appealed to the British Government to set institutions for agricultural education and research in India. This led to the opening of a branch for teaching agriculture in the College of Science at Pune in 1879 that was subsequently developed into a separate College of Agriculture in 1907. Initially three year diploma of the Bombay University was offered. In 1899 a degree course leading to Licentiate in Agriculture (L.Ag.) was started. The Bombay University in the year 1909, further extended the scope of these studies, raised the standards and instituted the degree of Bachelor of Agriculture (B.Ag.) Its nomenclature was changed to Bachelor of Science in Agriculture B.Sc.(Ag). India’s first agriculture university was established at Pantnagar in 1960. Today there are 44 agri varsities giving formal education to the students. The main aim behind the establishment of the universities was that to generate the skilled work force for the agriculture industry. After the independence the food security was the main concern for the nation. So during the green revolution universities played the crucial role in the transfer of the technology at the farmer’s doorstep. Education, Research and extension are the three pillars of the agricultural universities. Students should take the quality education in the colleges. They should do research and the extension workers should transfer this technology for the benefit of the farmers. But it’s time to think whether today we are following this model in the real life?

Previously farmers were looking at the universities as the pinnacle for the agricultural innovations but in the changing scenario universities failed to update themselves hence they are losing their credibility. And its implication will be severe in the long run. Today we are talking about the climate change, food security, farmer’s suicides, etc. Who will solve these problems? The universities have to do much hard work than the previously done. Agriculture education has no status like medical and engineering. Hence bright students are not opting for the agriculture stream. There is common notion that those who are not getting the engineering and medical seats enroll for the agriculture and allied streams. It is very clear that though agriculture is the largest business, we failed to create the employment in it. Really Agriculture has become down market in the education world. There are rare students who have chosen the course by choice. About 12000 agriculture students have graduated each year. This is very small number as compared to the engineers and the doctors. Private college model in the agriculture is not very successful. Out of 12000 students, how many go to the farms as the techno-farmer? Actually there are 40 crore farmers engaged in the farming. So how can we say that our agriculture education is providing skilled workforce for the agriculture sector. And if the same situation remains in the future then technical support to the agriculture will be a dream only. Quality of the education is again the concern. Our education has no status of the technical education. Also faculty and the syllabus are not updated timely. Therefore this system fails to attract the bright students. Agricultural University education is traditional, even in the 21^st century. Professors with the old notes with outdated courses make learning boring. Therefore students chose other option of the career instead of the agriculture. In Maharashtra, Agriculture universities are the centers where students study for the competitive examination (MPSC, UPSC, and Banks) rather than the research in agriculture.

We have developed the huge infrastructure for the universities but failed to establish the word class laboratories and create renowned scientists. We are spending little amount in research and development. In fact, investment on research is very crucial in the long run. Now time has come to do some relevant research, like the development of the Abiotic stress resistant varieties for combating the climate change; biotechnology for food security etc. Finally, extension wing of the system is very weak. I think extension department is very much important than research and education wing because whatever research is done in the laboratories is useless until it is transferred in the hands of the peasants. Also during graduation there is one semester dedicated for the ‘Rural agriculture work experience’ (RAWE). This is very good course but failed due to its implementation. Students are paid the daily allowance of the Rs 17 per day which is much less than the NREGA worker. Also there are laborious assignments which make the entire programme uninteresting among student community. If universities succeed to utilize this workforce properly for the extension activities then there is no need for the separate extension.

Due to above stated situation, agriculture education is losing its steam among all the stakeholders of industry. Hence quality education with employability is the need of the hour. As per the 4^th dean committee, academic reforms in terms of the syllabus have been done. It’s a good start but lot has to be done. New courses should be developed in accordance to the farmers and industry’s demand. Well equipped laboratories, collaborations with the national-international level institutes, involvement of the public- private partnership for research and development will enhance quality as well as quantity of reseach. Industry exposure and the practical knowledge about farming is required to boost the confidence of the students. We hope reforms in agriculture education will bring back Indian Agriculture on track.