Vice Chancellor Message

• Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi (BAU-R), carved out of Rajendra Agriculrural University (RAU), Samastipur (Bihar) in 1980 with the major objectives of perfecting area-specific, need-based, low-cost, system-responsive farm technologies for the undulating topography and resource-poor farmers of Chhotanagpur & Santhalpargana region, was formally inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi on 26th June, 1981. Ranchi-based Agriculture College, established in 1955, College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, set up in 1961 and Asia’s first Forestry College, established in 1979 were brought under the control of BAU. Centre for Biotechnology, set up in 1999 for offering postgraduate programme in the subject, was upgraded as College of Biotechnology in 2005. Seven new colleges, viz Rabindra Nath Tagore Agriculture College, Deoghar; Tilka Manjhi Agriculture College, Godda; Agriculture College, Garhwa; Phulo Jhano Dairy Technology College,

• Hansdiha, Dumka; College of Fisheries Science, Gumla, College of Horticulture, Khuntpani, West Singhbhum and College of Agricultural Engineering, Ranchi came into existence a couple of years ago where undergraduate programmes are running successfully. Besides the regular Bachelors’, Master’s and Ph D programmes running in the three faculties since long, UGC approved 3-year B Voc programme has been launched recently in Herbal Resource Technology and Human Nutrition & Dietetics.

• Agriculture employs nearly half of the Indian workforce and contributes 17-18% to National GDP. Scientific agricultural practice is important to meet the ever increasing demand of not only to nourish human population but to also sustain remarkable growth in animal farming sector.

• BAU-R is not only generating highly skilled technical human resource in agriculture and allied disciplines but it is also developing effective technologies for increasing farm production & productivity, reducing cost of cultivation, producing high quality seed for making the state self-reliant on seed front. It also serves as agricultural research advisor of the Jharkhand Government. At the time of its inception in the year 2000, this state was able to produce hardly 50 percent of its food grain requirements but with the technological interventions of the University and hard work of farmers, the state is now on the verge of self-sufficiency. The improved varieties of cereals, pulses, oilseeds, animal breeds, animal healthcare & management practices, silviculture techniques, etc, developed by BAU scientists, have contributed a lot in improving the socio-economic scenario of rural Jharkhand. Since crop productivity can be easily improved up to 30 percent by applying improved seeds alone, our university has intensified its seed production programme with the objective of producing adequate amount of high quality seeds of cereals, pulses, oilseeds etc to meet the seed requirements of Jharkhand State through seed farm at BAU main campus, sprawling Seed Production, Research & Training Centre, Gauria Karma (Hazaribagh), Seed Farm at Chhatarpur (Palamau), three Zonal Research Stations and 16 KVKs.

• For bringing improvement in the field of agriculture and allied sciences, BAU is working relentlessly in collaboration with ICAR and its several research institutes, line Departments of Jharkhand Government, IFFCO, Gramin Vikas Trust, SAMETI Jharkhand, National Horticulture Mission, C-DAC, Indian Meteorological Department (Ministry of Earth Sciences), Dept of Biotechnology, Government of India and leading NGOs of the State. BAU has also developed linkages with several international organizations like International Crop Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad; International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Mexico; International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Manila, Philippines; International Fund for Agricultural Development IFAD), Rome; International Vegetable Centre, Taiwan; Rockefeller Foundation, USA; International Potash Institute, Switzerland; International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI), Canada; and Cornell University, New York etc for technology development and scientific excellence in the field of agriculture.

• Strengthening the Counseling and Placement Cell for timely placement of graduates of the University is high on the list of our priority. Providing support to our students for preparing them for admission in leading research institutions and business schools as well as cracking National Eligibility Test, UPSC and PCS examinations through coaching by expert faculty also rank high on our agenda.

• I feel honoured and privileged to work along a highly motivated and committed faculty to ensure that the university not only maintains its position of eminence in the country but also contributes substantially in eradicating malnutrition from the state. I invite you to visit the website and browse the noteworthy information available here.