The Uttar Pradesh government has agreed to fill 417 academic positions at various universities throughout the state in the next six months, providing a significant boost to agricultural education and research. Furthermore, 143 positions at Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) will be filled.
The government also intends to generate academic and non-academic positions for the Sugarcane Technology College, which would be affiliated with Meerut's SVB University of Agriculture. According to a government press release, positions will also be established at the Horticulture and Forestry College of the Agricultural University of Kanpur. The government intends to establish the KVK assessment index. The index takes into account farmer training, contributions to natural farming, seed production, diversity, and optimal infrastructure use.
Currently, UP has four agricultural universities, one each in Ayodhya, Kanpur, Meerut, and Banda. There are 89 KVKs are functional across the state, of which 22 are regulated by ICAR, BHU, and the SH University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj.
Another 25 KVKs function under ND University of Agriculture and Technology in Ayodhya, while 15 others run under the CSA University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur. In Meerut, there are 20 KVKs under SP Agricultural University and seven are under Banda University of Agriculture and Technology. All the agriculture universities boast of crop-specific Centres of Excellence, said a government spokesperson.
In the last five years, all institutions have developed crop-specific Centres, and 12 new courses have been introduced.
Startup incubation centers will be established at all agricultural universities over the next two years, using funds provided by the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.
Under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, a total of Rs 114.84 crore has been granted for 67 Krishi Vigyan Kendras. A total of Rs 151.40 crore has been aside for agricultural universities.
