As a sequel to the Commission’s recommendations and visualizing its effectiveness in Agricultural Development, the first Agricultural University came into existence in 1960 at Pantnagar in Uttar Pradesh. Later, Dr. D.S. Kothari, Chairman of the University Grants Commission stressed the need for establishing one Agricultural University in each state. The University came into being in March 1975 by upgrading the then UP Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Kanpur and transfer of the prestigious Veterinary College, Mathura.

The Headquarter of the University is in Kanpur. The University has inherited the old glory of Government Agricultural College, Kanpur. The University has 31 Research Stations, Computer Centre, Laboratories, Agricultural Research Information System (ARIS), Agriculture Information Bureau (AIB), Agriculture Technology Information Centre (ATIC), Central Instrumentation Laboratory (CIL), Playgrounds etc., which provide enough opportunities to the students and the faculty to develop their skills. The only mission of the University is to strive ahead and to provide leadership in teaching, research and extension services in the field of agriculture and allied sciences. The University has identified several short-term and long-term goals in teaching, research and extension activities with a view to realize the mission statement.

The University is guided by a Board of Management which is the policy making body and is responsible for the management of the University.

The Board of studies through Academic Council advice the Board of Management on academic matters. The Research Advisory Committee and Extension Advisory Committees advise the Board on research and extension activities, respectively.

The teaching activities of the University run in three constituent colleges located at two campuses (Kanpur and Etawah). These colleges offer four undergraduate programmes in Agriculture, Forestry, Home Science and Agricultural Engineering. Faculty of these constituent colleges take active part in research and extension activities relevant to their respective zones. The constituent colleges thus strive to fulfill the goals and missions of the University. All the undergraduate programmes in the University are of 4 years duration. The University has adopted the semester system each semester being of 18 weeks duration. The University offers master degree programme in 21 disciplines and Ph.D. programme in 16 disciplines. Since its inception, the University has produced graduates over 2800 in Agriculture, 575 in Home Science and nearly 100 in Agricultural Engineering. In each discipline, the post-graduate students are also required to register courses which are called as advanced courses. Many departments have shown creditable performance in both teaching and research which is reflected by the recognition accorded by several University departments and national agencies. The total strength of the students on roll in the University is a little over eighteen hundred. Hostel facilities are provided to both boys and girls in all the teaching campuses of the University. A Dean Students’ Welfare is appointed by the University to look after the interests of the students. The University provides all encouragement for sport and extra-curricular activities through several incentives and resultantly several students have achieved distinction in sports, games and cultural activities both at the state and national levels. The University teachers conduct coaching classes of students appearing in ICAR fellowship examination. During 2002-2003, twenty-six students from different colleges of the University were awarded ICAR Junior Research Fellowship and the University secured the 5th place on an all India basis. In light of the changes that are taking place in the sphere of information technology, the University has set up a centralized computer laboratory and an Agricultural Research Information System (ARIS) with the help of the ICAR. The recruitment of faculty in recent years has declined and the University is working with only 61 per cent of the sanctioned strength of teaching, research and extension personnels. Revised UGC pay scales have been implemented for the faculty while the non-teaching staff is paid salaries as per the State Government pay scales. Teachers of various departments carry out research projects in addition to their teaching, which are supported by publications in the form of research papers and books. The faculty of the University has a good track record in teaching, research and extension activities. The faculty has published books in the field of agriculture and allied sciences for the benefit of both the farming and scientific communities. The colleges and research stations are housed in spacious buildings on sprawling campuses. The laboratory facilities and classroom spaces are adequate for UG and PG teaching. All students wishing to stay in the campus are provided hostel facilities in all the campuses. The University is having a small health centre at Kanpur. Research infrastructure established in the University is the most important strength of the University. The University is dedicated to the development of agriculture and animal husbandry in 26 districts of 6 divisions (Allahabad, Agra, Jhansi, Chitrakut Dham, Kanpur and Lucknow) spread in three agro-climatic zones (South-Western Semi-Arid, Bundelkhand and the Central Plains) of Uttar Pradesh. The University has 31 research stations including 8 KVKs & 9 KGKs spread over the three agro-climatic zones. Auditing is a significant component of the financial management of the University. The Government of Uttar Pradesh and the ICAR support the University in providing grants on an annual basis. The total budget of the University stood at Rs. 3937.34/- lakhs during 2002-2003 resulting in a deficit budget. The financial support provided does not commensurate with inflation and increasing costs of maintaining the vast teaching and research infrastructure of the university.

The University has a broad-based research programme with three regional research stations and six sub-research stations. There are 30 farms (research and seed multiplication) with an area of 1047.40 ha. out of which 25% area is being used for strategic and applied research, 63% under seed production and 12% under feed and fodder production. Sixty-three per cent of the total cultivated area is under assured irrigation. Out of the 17248 thousand ha. net sown area of UP, 7225 thousands ha. is covered in the service area of the University. Research activities of the University are mainly oriented to meet the goals and objectives of the University as outlined in the mandate. The Research Council is the apex research body in the University that has the responsibility of formulating the medium and long-term research policy and guidelines for carrying out research. The day-to-day management of all research work in the University is coordinated and managed by the Director of Agriculture Experiment Stations which has a competent network of technical, administrative and scientific personnel linking all teaching and research campuses. The ICAR has been providing research support by locating some AICRP in the University. The University has evolved a set of definite and strict guidelines for release of technology to ensure quality, credibility and reliability of research output. All research results are discussed in the Zonal Research and Extension Advisory Council meeting and any technology developed is recommended for release on farm trials or inclusion in package of practices based on open peer review in the meeting. The most satisfying research accomplishments of the University have been in the area of varietal improvement of crop plants. The University has developed several production technologies during the last 10 years particularly in the area of cultivation practices, dry land agriculture and pest and disease management. The crop production practices developed by the University have helped to increase productivity and reduce the cost of production. Breeding for pest and disease resistance in pulses; research in rainfed agriculture; improved crop production technology; mechanization for small farms and conservation of germplasm, genetic resources and biodiversity are some of the areas of current focus in research.

Extension is an important activity in the transfer of technology. While, the State Department of Agriculture has the major responsibility of extension, the University has often played the lead role in transfer of technology. Training for extension functionaries, rural women and farm youth has been a major programme of the extension wing. The University has also established an Agriculture Technology Information Centre (ATIC) and Krishak Help Line Service.

The information provided by the University is valuable for the stakeholders of the agriculture sector of the state. The University press is responsible for publishing University literature which include extension bulletins, publications, monthly Hindi bulletin Krishak Bharti and the University Farm Science Journal (research finding of on-going research work of the University)

Departments

College of Agriculture, Kanpur
College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mathura