Introduction
Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour established on 5th August, 2010 is a basic and strategic institution supporting more than 500 researchers and educationist towards imparting education at graduate and post graduate level, conducting basic, strategic, applied and adaptive research activities, ensuring effective transfer of technologies and capacity building of farmers and extension personnel. The university has 6 colleges (5 Agriculture and 1 Horticulture) and 12 research stations spread in 3 agro-ecological zones of Bihar. The University also has 21 KVKS established in 20 of the 25 districts falling under the jurisdiction of the University. The degree programmes of the university and its colleges have been accredited by ICAR in 2015-16. The university is also an ISO 9000:2008 certified organisation with International standard operating protocols for maintaining highest standards in teaching, research, extension and training.
Vision
The Bihar Agricultural University was established with the objective of improving quality of life of people of state especially famers constituting more than two third of the population. Having set ultimate goal of benefitting society at large, the university intends to achieve it by imparting word-class need based agricultural education, research, extension and public service.
Mandate
The mutually supporting mandates of University in the field of agricultural education, research and extension are:
Education: Developing quality human-ware and suitably trained quality human resources through professional programmes in agriculture and allied fields.
Research: Undertaking mutually reinforcing basic, applied and adaptive research besides acquiring and refining technologies for addressing the present and future problems in the field of agriculture. Capturing new opportunities that could prove beneficial for large number of people involved in farm activities.
Extension: ensuring transfer of technology effectively and extending assistance in adoption of technology with vibrant extension services taking into account the economic/socio conditions of the targeted groups.
Training: Imparting training for capacity building of extension professional. Paraprofessionals as well as vocational training of adults, youths and women through conventional as well as open & distance learning.
Agricultural Education
The University offering admission in Undergraduate degree programmes in Agriculture & Horticulture located over at 6 different campuses/colleges of the University. The Master & Ph.D. degree programmes is available in faculties of Agriculture. The residential requirement is 8 semesters for Undergraduate, 4 semesters for Masters & 6 semesters for Ph.D. Degree Programme. Our colleges as
- Bihar Agricultural College, Sabour, Bhagalpur
- Bhola Paswan Shstri Agricultural College, Purnea
- Mandan Bharti Agricultural College, Saharsa
- VKS College of Agriculture, Demuraon
- Dr Kalam Agricultural College, Kishanganj
- Nalanda College of Horticulture, Noorsarai
Agricultural Research
Bihar Agricultural University has been assigned responsibility of crop improvement, augmenting horticulture and live-stock production apart from management of agricultural activities and carrying out researches that could improve overall agriculture production in agro climatic zones II, III A and IIIB comprising larger part of the state. Scientists are also working in improvement of natural and genetic resource management, diversification of production systems. And value-added crop and livestock products. Social, economic and policy research are the integral component of research to better target sustainable development and to enhance the uptake and impact of the research outputs. The research programs are categorized in six sub groups viz., crop improvement, natural resource management, crop protection, social sciences, product development and marketing and animal science. These research programs are mandate of different units of the university i.e., Colleges of Agriculture at Sabour, Buxar, Saharsa, Purnea and Kishanganj; College of Horticulture at Noorsarai, Nalanda; and various regional research stations in form of students project, plan and non-plan projects.
The university has developed collaboration with number national and international institutes of repute. It has a strong linkage with the ICAR institutes including Directorate of Rice Research, Directorate of wheat Research, Indian Institute of Pulse Research, Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, India Institute of Farming System Research, Directorate of Maize Research, Central Plantation Crop Research Institute, Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture, National Dairy Research Institute, Indian Veterinary Research Institute and several others.
Similarly, University research is also dovetailed with various international organizations eg. International Rice Research Institute for stress tolerant rice (STRASA), rained rice development (IRRAS), Aerobic Rice Breeding and dry direct seeded rice; International Center for Maize and Wheat Improvement for a biotic stress tolerant and climate resilient maize hybrids, cropping system agronomy and wheat breeding; International Crop Research Institute for Semi Arid tropics for improving chickpeas, groundnuts and pigeon pea breeding. BAU and ICRISAT are also exploring possibility of developing pigeon pea hybrids using indigenous materials. The university is also collaborating with International Plant Nutrient Institute for developing site specific nutrient management in rice, wheat and maize. With Ebonics Germany University in developing technologies for offsetting terminal water stress in rained winter legumes.
New research for development facility have been created for micro propagation of strawberry and exotic flowers; protected cultivation; biofentlers and bio pesticides production key research themes in the university include improving resource use, natural resource management including climate change adaptation and mitigation. Farming system research, genetic enlargement of crops including horticultures and livestock resilient to biotic and a biotic stresses, product development and value addition. Technology transfer and out scaling. Capacity enhancement and social science and policy research.
Agricultural Extension
In the field of extension education Bihar Agriculture University has many initiatives to credit. New methods have been successfully experimented by university for technology transfer to farmers. Quite a number of technologies that university succeeded in popularizing among farmers were developed at the university. University has developed a knowledge network and dissemination system for increasing access and capacity building of farmers in the state with the intervention of information and Communication Technology. It has established Electronic Media & production Centre (EMPC) for audio, video and multimedia development/production which comprises of audio and video studios, PCR room, recording/edition room, digital archives, library and auxiliary facilities. An agriculture e portal has also been developed for web-casting using Web Portal for agriculture related services, SMS facilities for farmers with high speed internet connectivity. Complete information (climatology, variety, agronomy, plant disease management, Post-harvest management, etc.) and recommended package of practices for the mandate crops in the form of video/audio/multimedia will be put on the web portal which shall be augmented/updated continuously. Besides, CDs and video of the multimedia are distributed to the farmers. Now, the University headquarters has also been connected with almost all Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to connect with farmers from the university headquarter for timely and relevant messages.
The work taken under tribal development programme through KVKs is helping in income generation as well as employment generation by producing more and more farm products from less land water, inclusing of mushroom crop in agriculture sector, employment generation for unemployed rural youth, improvement in standard of living, income generation and improvement in health and farm well being. It has website devoted to the farmers i.e., www.kisangyan.com besides, Bihar Agricultural University has developed its website (www.bausabour.ac.in) and information on the web is being updated regularly.
University Administration
Senate is the highest body of the university is headed by Hon’ble Chancellor. Vice-Chancellor is empowered to chair senate meetings in absence of Chancellor as provisions of acts and statutes. Agriculture Production Commissioner, Principal secretary of Food and Consumer Protection, Additional Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Fishery Department, Chief of Forest Conservation. Director Agriculture, Director Animal Husbandry, Director Fisheries, Joint Director Agriculture.
Education Director Research (BAU). Director Extension Education All Deans and Principals of different colleges of the university are among the members of senate. Responsibilities entrusted to senate include policy review besides, review of the progress being made by university in different fields.
Board of Management
The board of management in university is the apex body responsible for formulation/modification and review of acts besides, formulation of policies concerning functioning of the university. The Vice Chancellor is the Chairman and other ex-officio members of the board include Agriculture Production Commissioner/Principal Secretary/Secretary. Department of Agriculture Bihar, Principal Secretary/Secretary. Department of Finance; Director Agriculture; Director Horticulture. There is one external member from academic who is well known in the field of agriculture and/or science. There are five members nominated by state government parliament (2), women working at grass-root level (1), Progressive farmer (1), Agri-entrepreneur (1) and one representative of ICAR, There is one each of Director, Dean, Chairman/Head of department which are nominated by Vice-Chancellor. The Registrar acts as Member Secretary of the Board. The Board is responsible for framing rules, regulations and amendments to it. Is also responsible for financial requirement and review of the university.
Academic Council
The top educational body of the university has been entrusted responsibility of reviewing educational programmes periodically in order to maintain high standards of education in university. The council is empowered to formulate necessary rules and regulations for implementation of educational programmes. Headed by vice-Chancellor, the members of the council include Director, Deans, Head of departments, two heads from each college, one nominated professor, one expert from the field of agriculture with Registrar as Member Secretary.
Chancellor
The Hon’ble Governor of Bihar is the Chancellor of the university by virtue of his office; he is the head of the university and presides over convocations of the university.
Vice-Chancellor
The Vice-Chancellor is the whole time officer of the university. The-Vice Chancellor is the principal executive and academic officer of university and ex-officio chairman of Board of Management and Academic Council. He shall in the absence of Chancellor, preside at the convocation of the university and confer degrees on persons entitled to receive them. Vice-Chancellor Exercises general control over the affairs of the university and is responsible for due maintenance of discipline in the university.
Other Senior Officials
Deans of the respective faculty’s ad Directors are other senior officials of the university. Responsible for organizing teaching programmes, Deans are needed to report to the Vice-Chancellor. The Director of Research is responsible for the direction and co-ordination of research programmes; Director of Residence Instruction is responsible for inter-faculty and inter-departmental co-ordination of under-graduate and post-graduate instructions; Director of Extension Education provides direction and co-ordination of agricultural extension programme; Register acts as ex-officio secretary of Board of Management and Academic Council; Comptroller is responsible to the Vice-Chancellor for preparation of the budget and statement of accounts of a university. Director Seeds & Farms Director, Planning and Director, Administration are the other officers of the university.