The Gazetteers Department

Research, is the backbone of development of agriculture on scientific lines. The main object of agricultural research is to improve the present conditions and to maximise production for meeting the needs of the growing population. The improvement in the quality of agricultural production is also to be attempted through research work. Crop improvement lakes the form of evolving newer strains of field and orchard crops which give higher yields and are resistant to pests, diseases and drought conditions, have better grain quality, respond better to manures and possess other desirable qualities. The agricultural education, on the other hand, helps in directing the efforts of agricultural production.

There are two agricultural research stations in the district, one at Akola situated on the border of the command area of the Morna river and other at Washim. A trial-cum-demonstration farm is proposed to be established ai Pailpada village. The object of establishing this farm is to demonstrate the different crops to be taken, under irrigation and the package of practices to be adopted for getting good outturns. The Agricultural College, Akola, carries out agricultural research in the fundamental and applied statistics. There are 12 taluka seed multiplication farms. Every year some agronomic experiments are conducted on these farms. Although propaganda method and resultant demonstrations have achieved a great measure of success the progress can be speeded up and lasting effect can be had only if the younger generation of farmers is educated in scientific farming. With this end in view agricultural schools were established in rural areas. One such agricultural school was established at Nimbi. To make up for the deficiency of trained personnel in soil conservation, one Soil Conservation Training Institute was established at Akola, where 278 fresh candidates are admitted every year. Recently research work has been taken up on wheat crop at Washim. Experiments are also conducted at this centre to evolve promising varieties of wheat suitable to Vidarbha tract.

Punjabrao Agricultural University, Akola

While agricultural research and education had considerably expanded during the Third Five Year Plan, it was observed that integration of agricultural research, education and extension education was to be properly achieved. Similarly, some other important wings of agricultural education including agricultural engineering, agricultural technology, women's education in home economics were also to be developed. Having regard to these considerations Government passed the Agricultural University Bill. Considering the large size of the Stale and the different agro-climatic zones, Government further decided to establish an Agricultural University at Akola, and named it after the late Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh. Accordingly, the Punjabrao Agricultural University (Krishi Vidyapeeth) Act was passed in 1968 and the Punjabrao Agricultural University came into existence on 20th October 1969 with headquarters at Akola.

The agricultural colleges at Nagpur, Akola and Parbhani and the Veterinary College, Nagpur were affiliated as constituent colleges to that University. The rural and agricultural training institutes at Amravati and Warora were also affiliated to the said University since 20th October 1969. In addition to the above, agricultural research centres from Vidarbha and Marathwada regions were also transferred to that University from that date.

However with the establishment of a separate Agricultural University for Marathwada with headquarters at Parbhani, the Agricultural College at Parbhani alongwith the research centres in Marathwada region were excluded from the jurisdiction of the Punjabrao University and were affiliated to the Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani from 1972.

In the Fifth Five Year Plan it is proposed to provide allocation of Rs. 4.00 crores for the development of this University.

The agricultural research and demonstration activities under the auspices of the Punjabrao University are highly beneficial to the agrarian economy of the district. The varietal and agronomic research conducted by the experts of the University are harnessed to the development of agriculture on scientific lines. New varieties of cotton, jowar, wheat, tur, oranges and a number of crops taken in Vidarbha are evolved. Scientific measures for control and prevention of pests and diseases are also suggested. Besides, improvements in horticulture, poultry and cattle breeding are also studied for propagation in the district.

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