In India, which is predominantly an agricultural nation, more than half of the population depends on agriculture and related industries to make a living. Although there have been food grain shortages in India in the past, the nation is now mostly self-sufficient in terms of agriculture. Agriculture has to get greater traction in terms of education if this self-sufficiency is to continue.
The state economy's overall growth depends heavily on agriculture. 77% of the workforce in Bihar works in agriculture, which accounts for about 24.84% of the state's GDP. Bihar's projected agricultural production system employment rate is 77%, much higher than the national average. Almost 24.84% of the state's GDP (2011–12) came from the agriculture industry (including forestry and fishing).
More specifically, many colleges in Bihar provide professional courses or degrees in agriculture. Some of the best agricultural universities (AUs) in Bihar are listed below:
Best Agricultural Universities (AU’s) In Bihar
1. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), Samastipur
One of the renowned institutions with a focus on agricultural sciences is Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), located in Samastipur. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur was founded in 1970 and since then has earned a reputation as one of the top universities for agricultural studies by providing a wide range of Graduate, Postgraduate, and Research degrees. The universities provide B.Sc, B. Tech, MSc, MBA, M. Tech, and Research in Agricultural and Allied Courses as specialties. The university is a public institution, making it one of the most selective universities for students hoping to advance their careers in agriculture. Admission to programs at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur is based on performance in the All-India Entrance Examination in Agriculture and Allied Science which is conducted by ICAR.
2. Bihar Agricultural University (BAU)
The Bihar Agricultural University is an independent institution run by the ICAR that was founded in 2010 and is located in Sabour, in the Bihar district of Bhagalpur. Bihar has historically been blessed with generous natural gifts of land, water, and climatic amplitudes with a great potential for agricultural output of all kinds. The 25 districts of Bihar that make up the Agricultural University's operational region are Araria, Arwal, Aurangabad, Banka, Bhabhua, Bhagalpur, Bhojpur, Buxar, Gaya, Jamui, Jehanabad, Katihar, Kishanganj, Khagaria, Lakhisarai, Madhepura, Munger, Nalanda, Nawada, Patna, Purnia, Rohtak, Saharsa, Sheikhpura, Khagaria, and Supaul districts. It is done to meet the unique requirements of this prospective grain hub of the State. The head office of this university is situated at the current Bihar Agricultural College, Sabour Campus, which is the oldest and most prestigious agricultural college in the state and is responsible for transferring technology as part of its extension mission.
3. C.V. Raman University (CVRU), Vaishali
The Dr. C.V. Raman University (CVRU), Vaishali was founded in 2018 and is situated in Bhagwanpur, Bihar. The first private university in the state of North Bihar, it is one of the greatest private institutions in India. The institution is a member of the AISECT Group of Universities (AGU). Numerous undergraduate, graduate, and research courses in the fields of engineering, management, the arts, and humanities are available at CVRU Bihar. Merit-based admission to CVRU Vaishali is done in conjunction with the university's AISECT Joint Entrance Exam. Additionally, CVRU helps its final-year students with job placement. To improve the quality of the students, the cell arranges several mock drills in a variety of areas, such as soft skills training, personality development, group debates, computer languages, etc.
4. Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi
On August 18, 1960, the first Chief Minister of Bihar, the late Dr. Srikrishna Singh, lay the cornerstone of the Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi in the Muzaffarpur district, fulfilling a long-held dream of the farming community in Mithilanchal (North Bihar). The college wanted to use its superior resources for agricultural expertise and turn this enormous fertile area of North Bihar into a granary bowl for the benefit of the poor. In 1961, the college was founded with a small group of instructors under the direction of Professor S. K. Mukharjee, who also served as the first Principal. The college graduated its first class of students in 1963. The college confers the B. Sc. (Ag.) degree to qualified applicants.
5. Gopal Narayan Singh University Agriculture
To provide instruction in agricultural sciences, the Narayan Institute of Agricultural Sciences was founded. It is an initiative to increase the State's capacity to provide high-quality agricultural science education to boost agricultural productivity and economic growth while taking into account the rising population and shrinking arable land under more challenging environmental conditions. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, has established certain standards, regulations, and a syllabus that the institute is adhering to.
