Location and Historical Background
Pune with a population of 2.5 million is the second largest city (Next to Mumbai) in the Maharashtra State. Since Historical times, Pune has been a famous educational and cultural centre. The Maratha Kindgom was founded by Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj around Pune in 1676 A.D. The weather of Pune is very pleasant with maximum temperature ranging from 320 to 42 0C. The College of Agriculture is located in the heart of the city, very close to the Bus and Railway station and about 10 k.m. from the airport. The city is well connected to other metropolis of the country by road, rail and air.
Historical Background of the College:
The Department of Agriculture was established at the centre in 1877 followed by setting of similar departments by the provinces. It was soon realised that research and education are the very foundations for the development of agriculture. 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), and the first batch of graduate with this degree passed out in 1937.
The College of Agriculture, Pune is one of the first five agriculture Colleges established in India. From its very inception, there has been a close co-ordination between research and teaching. After establishment of Maharashtra Agricultural University in the year 1968 , the College of Agriculture, Pune was transferred to the University as a constituent College. In 1969, the College was transferred to the Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (Agricultural University), Rahuri established in that year. The B.Sc.(Hort) degree programme was started in the year 1984. The University headquarters are located in Rahuri, Dist.Ahmednagar 160 km to the north of Pune.
Instructional Programmes :
The instructional programme follows semester system of course credit. The medium of instruction is english. The first and second semesters normally start in the month of July and January respectively.
Undergraduate Programms (B.Sc.(Agri.) & B.Sc.(Hort))
The degree programme is of four year duration spread over 8 semesters. The evaluation is partly internal(20%) and partly external (80%). The credit requirement for the B.Sc.(Agri) degree is 160 credits and for the B.Sc.(Hort) degree is 160 credits, Out of which 15 credits are reserved for rural agricultural work experience (RAWE). To expose the students to the rural life and farming situations, the RAWE programme of 1 semester has been introduced in the curricular of B.Sc.(Agri) and B.Sc.(Hort) degree programme. During the seventh semester the students gain farm experience by staying in the villages
Post Graduate Programmes :
The post graduate programme leading to the M.Sc.(Agri) degrees in 10 disciplines are offered. The M.Sc.(Agri) programme is of two years duration spread over 4 semesters. The students has to complete 50 credits out of which 35 credits are allotted to course work and 15 credits to research work.
The Ph.D. programme is of 3 year duration spread over 6 semesters. The student has to complete 70 credits, out of which 35 credits are allotted to course work and 35 credits to research work.
Faculty position :
The College has well trained faculty consisting of one Associate Dean, 12 Professors, 30 Associate Professors and 69 Assistant Professors or equivalent positions. Most of the Professors have achieved distinction in their respective field of specialization. The College has well developed infrastructures in terms of class rooms and laboratories. It has well developed computer facilities and connected with the Internet.
Research Projects Associated with the College:
All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Microbiological decomposition of Organic Waste, All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Mushroom, All India Coordinated Research Projects on Farm Implements and Machinery, All India Coordinated Research Projects on Cotton, All India Coordinated Research Projects on Biological control of pest, Centre for Advanced Studies in Agricultural Meteorology, Research scheme on micro nutrient, Biological control of insect pests, Regional fruit research station, Plant Virology center , NRC on Grapes and Onion & Garlic.
College Buildings :
By 1907, the Chemistry block was ready for occupation. The College of Agriculture was separated from the College of Science on 1st January 1908. The main building with its grand dome, beautiful entrance hall, library, herbarium and laboratories for teaching and research in Agriculture, Botany, Mycology and Economics was completed in 1911 and was declared open by Lord Sydenham, the Governor of Bombay. Agricultural Entomology, Agronomy, Horticulture, Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Engineering sections have separate office and laboratory buildings.
Library :
In 1977, a separate building for the College Library was constructed and inaugurated at the hands of Dr. P.C. Alexander, Hon. Chancellor and Governor of Maharashtra. The College Library has a collection of 37838 books, 4435 back volumes, 276 important reports, proceedings. The College also subscribes for 50 periodicals.
Hostels :
One of the outstanding feature of the College is its hostels, providing accommodation to 800 students. A girls hostel accommodating 60 girl students is available. Each of the building has common hall and mess arrangement. The Rector, assisted by Monitors, supervises the hostel. The reading room is provided with News papers, Magzines, Radio and TV. The mess is run by the students on cooperative basis.
Scholarships :
The number of scholarships and educational concessions are available. Educational Tours : Educational tours to reputed institutions and organizations throughout the country to give the students exposure to their mode and functioning in different environment.
National Service Scheme (NSS) :
The National Service Scheme of students sponsored by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India is in operation at the College since 1985. The unit is provided with 250 volunteers and two programme officers. the activities are two fold 1) Regular activity under which the volunteers have to complete 240 hours during two years of registration. 2) Special Camping Programme \, under which the volunteers are kept in a village for 10 days to participate in literacy, health, sanitation, construction of rural roads etc
National Cadet Corps :
The college is attached to the 'D' Coy. of the 36 Maharashtra Battalion NCC. There are two pareds every week. Every year there is a camp during the December vacation. Students joining the N.C.C. can appear for the 'B' and 'C' Certificate examinations and can get commission in the Armed Forces.
Gymkhana :
The College of Agriculture has a sports ground, spread over an area of 3 hectare. The Gymkhana has all the facility for Indian as well modern games, Indoor and Outdoor, with a gymnasium and Badminton hall. Medical facility : The College has a Dispensary headed by a resident Medical Doctor Banks : A branch of the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank operates on the Campus. Post Office : Postal Services are provided by the branch of the Shivaji Nagar Post Office 411 005, located within the Campus.
Other Institutions in the City :
University of Pune, Bharthi Vidyapeeth (Deemed University), Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, National Defence Academy, Inter University Center for Astronomy and Astra Physics, National Institute of Bank Management, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology etc.
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