College of Agriculture

The College of Agriculture is the premier and the foremost Agricultural Institute established in 1910, first of its kind in the country and South East Asia. The College is actively involved in teaching research and extension to impart quality teaching and research- extension modules for the multi dimensional development of the students and the farming community in and around Allahabad region. The college offers two undergraduate programmes, B.Sc. (Ag) and B. Sc. Home Science (Hons) and fifteen post graduate programmes in various disciplines.

Department of Agronomy

Agronomy is the backbone of agricultural education and this department is one of the first to be established in this University. It trains students the concepts of basic agriculture and crop production and farming knowledge through rigorous practical and theory classes. Apart from being a part of undergraduate programme it offers postgraduate degree in Agronomy in Crop Production and M.Sc. (Ag.) Crop Physiology including Ph.D. in Agronomy. The department has latest research facilities and encourages student to have sustained on hand experience on field crop management. All subjects in agriculture are interrelated to agronomy.

Faculty

The department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, is the recently established course specialization. It offers two post graduate courses Viz., M.Sc. (Ag) Genetics & Plant Breeding and M.Sc. (Ag) Seed Science and Technology. The department offers wide range of courses for undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D. programmes through its well trained and qualified faculty members. Apart from teaching, emphasis is on a systematic and need based research to develop new high yielding varieties of cereals oilseeds & pulses for the region of Uttar Pradesh

The Department of Agricultural Extension and communication is globally known for its pioneer work in Rural Development. The first Rural Development project started in India through this department in the name of Jumna par Punar Nirman (JUPAN) sponsored by Ford Foundation Society of USA. The Department of Agricultural Extension & Communication was established in 1952. The department was founded and headed by an eminent Rural Sociologist Dr. A. T. Mosher. Later on it was headed by Dr. T. A. Koshy and then by Prof. (Dr.) J. B. Chitambar.

The Department reached new heights during the tenure of Prof (Dr.) J. B. Chitambar. He took over the responsibilities as a challenge in the field of rural development (Jumna par) Allahabad, through Department of Extension Education and Communication by extending its services to the remote areas. He floated new concepts in rural development introduced linkage between rural areas including educational and research institutions with the help of Gaon Sathi concept.

Department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology is an integral part of the Allahabad Agricultural Institute Deemed University. The department has been established in 1920 with view to impart training to the undergraduate students. In the year 1970 -71 postgraduate programme leading to M.Sc (Ag) in Agricultural Economic was started under the leadership of Dr. A.D. Wycliffe (Economic Advisor, F.A.O). Further from the year 2000-2001 this programme was divided into two specialized courses viz., M.Sc (Ag) Economics (Farm management) and M.Sc Ag Economics (Agriculture Marketing). Course work programme for Ph.D was started in the year 2001. The Department has well experienced faculty to impart course work in undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D programmes apart from being associated with research and extension activities.

The Department of Plant Protection is established to carry out fundamental and applied aspects of research, teaching and training in the field of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Nematology. At present the main thrust areas of department of plant protection are post / disease management, biological midsection control of insects and diseases, pesticide toxicology, bio-pesticides, mushroom production, nematology and post harvest disease and their management. The department has a well established Integrated pest Management (IPM) laboratory which specialises in the mass production of bio-pesticides like beauvrria bassian varede, NPV, trichoderma chilonis etc.

The department of Home Science (earlier the Dept. of Home Economics) is about 66 years old and one of the oldest in imparting Home Science education in the country. The department offers undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D programmes. A diploma programme in Fashion Technology is also offered. The overall aim of the department is to promote coagnitive and effective learning among students for technology transfer. It strengthens teaching-research-extension linkages through family and community focused research for holistic improvement in quality of life of farm and rural families. Home Science component includes courses in the areas of Food Science, Dietetics, Community Nutrition, Food Service, Food Quality Control, Human Development, Marriage and Family Relationship, Guidance & Councelling, Nursery School Training, Textile and their care, Apparel Designing, Weaving, Housing and Space Management, Family Resource Management, Consumer Education, Programme Development for Rural families, Extension Training Management and Industrial and Rural Work experience. The undergraduate programme includes a pakage of vocational courses as well as training of about 4 months in industries and rural areas in order to equip them for better employment prospects. The programme is designed in such a way that at the completion of the same the students may take up self employment or go for higher studies.
The programme of foods, nutrition and dietetics offered in the department focuses on developing knowledge and skills in micro and macro management of food for ensuring nutritional security and safeguarding human health. The department trains students as food scientist, nutritionists in an integrated manner to full fill multifarious roles required of an inistitutionalist / dietitian / scientist in the professional arena.
The department is committed to research areas of nutrition intervention to combat major nutritional deficiencies / disorders, development and impact assessment of nutrition communication material, anti nutritional factors in selected foods, formulation and standardization of therapeutic foods, dehydration of vegetables and their product formulation.
It offers various courses that focus on the trends of the various faces of human growth from conception to old age. It trains and prepare students through theory and practical work to understand and deal with various developmental stages of life cycle and their personality development.
The research areas include family relationship and child rearing practices, children with special needs, behavioral problems and personality development, human rights and gender issues.
The programme of clothing and textiles offered in the department impacts training to develop knowledge of textiles and skills in apparel designing and clothing construction to develop professionalism in fashion / garments / textile industry. The department also imparts training on value addition of textile products and skills in textile technology for starting micro enterprises in the context of the modern world of varied fashion and fabrics, the course programme offered is quite relevant and need based.
The research is being carried out in Value addition of textiles by dyeing, printing and finishing, biopolishing of non-conventional fibres for product development, designing through CAD, blending of fibres to enhance fabric properties, garment construction and designing.
It concentrates on various aspects of management of resources, house hold technology for work simplifications, space management and aesthetic enrichment of house. It also aims to give intensive training in the area of housing and interior design development of skills of family finance.
Designing of low cost furniture for persons with special needs, solar energy technology, ergonomic assessment of household activities and drudgery prone activities, computer aided interior designing are the major areas of the department.
It plays a crucial role in the developing country like India where its largest population is predominantly rural, illiterate and poor. Extension has wide scope in meeting the challenges in the national context by developing programmes and formulating methodologies for transfer of technologies to rural clients and developing skills to impart knowledge through vartied media. The department focuses on self help group (SHT) formation to empower women and the role of SHGs on empowerment of rural women through participation in agro-based enterprises