Maharana Pratap University of Agricultural and Technology - MPUAT

About Maharana Pratap University of Agricultural and Technology - MPUAT

Maharana Pratap University of Agricultural and Technology (MPUAT), formerly named as Agricultural University, Udaipur, is amongst the leading agriculture university of Rajasthan. It was established on 1st November, 1999 by bifurcation of the Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner through promulgation of Government of Rajasthan Ordinance No. 6 of 1999, which became an Act in May, 2000. Owing to the bifurcation, Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner's Udaipur campus was converted into an autonomous institute. As a result the various colleges like RCA, CHSc, CTAE, CDFST, Bikaner Agricultural Research Stations, Sub-Stations, Livestock Research Stations as well as Krishi Vigyan Kendras in 10 districts in earmarked service area of the university were transferred along with staff and facilities to this newly created University as its constituent units. It was established as a separate university due to wide physiographic variation including crops, cropping pattern, climate, soil parameters, etc. in Rajasthan. The jurisdiction of the university include constituent colleges, Agricultural Research Stations (ARSs), Agricultural Research Sub Stations (ARSSs), Livestock Research Station (LRS), Dry land Farming Research Station (DFRS) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) spread over 12 districts of the south and south eastern part of the state of Rajasthan. These districts are Banswara, Baran, Bhilwara, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Jhalawar, Kota, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, Sirohi and Udaipur. The teaching programme at College of Technology and Engineering as well as College of Dairy and Food Science Technology are duly recognized by AICTE. The Courses run by MPUAT are accredited by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research ) as well. The university also supports the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices with the data base for cost of production estimates of major crops required for minimum support price policy of the Government of India.

Constituent Institutes

• RCA - Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur.
• CDFST - College of Dairy and Food Science Technology, Udaipur.
• CTAE - College of Technology and Engineering, Udaipur.
• CF - College of Fisheries, Udaipur.
• CHSC - College of Home Science, Udaipur.
• COH & F - College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar.

Faculty

• Faculty of Agriculture.
• Faculty of Engineering.
• Faculty of Dairy & Food Technology.
• Faculty of Home Science.
• Faculty of Fisheries.
• Faculty of Horticulture & Forestry.

Facilities

Hostels - The university has 10 hostels including 2 hostels for female students. There are separate hostels for post-graduate and under-graduate students. Every hostel has been provided with common room, hostel library, colour TV, furniture for visitors room, indoor games room and the courts for Basketball, Volleyball, Badminton and Tennis etc. The mess of each hostel is equipped with all the modern facilities. The proposed hostel for foreign students will offer various educational programs. These programs will be based on the principle of exploring India i.e. to know the Indian culture and some other things like food, soil & environment more closely plus the students has been provided educational feedback in those domains where they are lacking in knowledge. They will be educated in their desired field by framing their knowledge according to Indian educational structure. Apart from this unique facility, they will be provided other basic hostel amenities.

University Central Library - The university central library was renamed as Dr. Amar Singh Rathore Central Library. The central library and other libraries of the University in different faculties cater to the information needs of students, faculty, researchers, scientists, trainees and agricultural officers both in conventional as well as electronic format. Library information system at MPUAT is partially automated, bar-coded and digitized. There are about 2981 scientific journals available online through the CeRA under different modes of operation like - RA (Request Article), FT (Full Text) and AL (Available in your library). The central library has a collection of 71,500 reference books and has been subscribing the print versions of 37 Indian Journals related to Agriculture. The total collection of all the libraries comes to 1,50,710 books, 128 journals, 1,653 CD ROM's. Internet and Intranet facilities are available at all the libraries in the University to retrieve and download research information; besides, all Departments are connected to the library through LAN.

Internet and Campus Networking - MPUAT is one of the few institutes in India to deploy a Gigabit campus networking providing 2-Mbps (1:1) leased through Cisco 1700 router, Cyberoam 500i UTM, Cisco PIX 515E firewall and Cisco catalyst 3550 and ISDN line connectivity not only to student hostels but also to all faculties. Wireless Internet/Intranet connectivity in each room of Under Graduate/Post Graduate hostels through 802.11g Wi-Fi network. Facilities of Internet IP telephony, also called Voice over IP (VoIP), Video over MPUAT Intranet for on line teaching are also available.

Directorate of Research - The university has a full fledged Directorate of Research with comprehensive infrastructure for research, both at headquarters and at different research stations. A number of research projects are in progress where in postgraduate students do participate by taking up their research problems under the main project with a specific objective(s). All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) are the long-term projects which are planned and carried out each year . Financial help in the form of research fellowship is also provided to the postgraduate students to support their project. To cater the research needs of the south and south eastern parts of Rajasthan, special cells have been developed.

These cells are:

• Cell for Seed & Farms - It coordinates quality seed production by the university.
• SEAPPRC Cell - It is involved in Socio Economic and Agricultural Policy Planning Research .
• IPR Cell - Intellectual Property Rights.
• Climate Change Study Cell - It focuses on multi faculty activities.

Directorate of Extension Education - The Directorate of Extension Education is responsible for the development of extension education and transfer of technology to the stake holders. It provides farm advisory service, organization of field days, various trainings etc. through a number of Krishi Vigyan Kendras. Through these activities it provides updated knowledge to extension personnel in emerging areas of science and technologies, long term vocational training courses in agriculture and allied vocations for the unemployed youth with emphasis on "learning by doing". The directorate also acts as a link between Research and KVKs for transfer of latest technical know-how through farmers feed back to the research system and publications covering latest technologies for the use of farmers. There are 10 KVKs under the Directorate of Extension Education which organizing short and long-term vocational training courses in agriculture and allied vocations for the farmers, farm women higher production on farms and generating self employment and conducting front line demonstrations on various crops to assess

Activities of the Directorate

• Training for School Drop-outs and Rural Youth - Specialized short and long duration vocational training courses are being offered to school drop-outs and rural youth. These are organized in the field of seed production, nursery raising, vermin culture, composting and other related fields
• Agri-clinic and Agri-business Training - The Directorate encourages agricultural graduates to become job-producers through agri-clinic and agri-business training of 60 days duration in specialized areas.
• Agricultural Technology Museum - It depicts teaching, research and TOT activities and achievements of the university at one place.
• Training of educated unemployed youth - Regular training programs are held under Prime Ministers “Rajkar Yojana” for educated unemployed youth in areas such as crop production, horticulture, animal husbandry, agricultural engineering etc.
• Village Adoption Programme - For integrated agricultural development of villages, each KVK has adopted ten villages and in all 100 villages have been adopted by the 10 KVKs where efforts are directed for demonstration and dissemination of technologies. Out of the 10 villages selected by each KVK, one village has been developed as MODEL VILLAGE, depicting all the technological interventions feasible for the agro-climatic conditions of the area.
• Integrated Village Development Project - An innovative Integrated Village Development Project with integrated farming system approach has been implemented with the goal of transformation of villages for socio-economic upliftment of tribals of southern Rajasthan. The project was funded by Dept. of Tribal Area Development, GOR. A basket of 18-28 technologies were taken to 18 tribal villages of three districts viz. Banswara, Dungarpur and Udaipur.
• NAIP on Livelihood & Nutritional Security in Tribal Area - The Directorate is the Lead Centre of NAIP Project “Livelihood and Nutritional Security of Tribal Dominated Areas through Integrated Farming System and Technology Models” being operated in a consortia mode in four most backward districts of the state i.e. Banswara, Dungarpur, Udaipur and Sirohi. Integrated Farming System models based on Horticulture and Animal Husbandry are being adopted by 14000 families in 10 clusters of 50 villages in these four districts.

Placement & Information Bureau - The Bureau is actively organizing different activities for the personality development and to provide information & guidance for the better placement of the young graduates of the University The Bureau organises several seminars, lectures, coaching classes for the students. It provides placement information to the students and also arranges campus interviews. The Bureau also organizes personality development career guidance lectures from time to time. The University is also setting up a language lab at the Directorate of Students’ Welfare, where students are learning English language with its grammar and skill development.

Extra Curricular Activities - Extra Curricular Activities are undertaken by Directorate of Students’ Welfare. It plans and organizes various co-curricular activities for the students at the University and College level. Various activities are organised for students to express their creative urge through literature, social and cultural activities and participation in NCC, NSS and NSO at college and University level.

NSS - National Service Scheme of the university has 6 NSS Units functioning in the 5 constituent Colleges under the NSS Program Officers. Regular Camps and Special NSS camps are being organized by each NSS Unit, organizing different educational, social, developmental, community service programs at Campus and villages. The special training program on different social problems like AIDs etc. are also being organized by these units as per the directives of the Department of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India and the NSS Regional Centre from time to time. Besides regular activities of cleanliness, shramdan, tree plantation in the campus the units are also engaged in social and community works in their adopted Villages.

NCC - National Cadet Corps in the university have 2 platoons functioning at RCA & CTAE under the NCC Officer. The cadets participate in various camps like Army Attachment Camp, National Integration Camp, etc. at different places and winning prizes, medals.

Student Counselling - The University /Colleges have a comprehensive system of student counselling at various levels as summarized here under:

1. Before admission the students are called for counselling according to their position in the merit where they are explained about various options of subjects and courses available to them vis-à-vis position in the merit and expected placement after completing the course. Students are then helped in finalizing their choice in order of their preferences.
2. After admission to undergraduate and post-graduate program the students are assigned to a teacher (advisor) for counselling and guiding in academic and other matters. The student advisory system has been found very useful in enabling the new students to adjust in the new environment of the University.
3. Orientation Program for students is organized just after admission of the students to acquaint them with various aspects of the University and infrastructure facilities available in various colleges of University.

Moral Education Forum - It was created with the objective to inculcate the basic moral values and ethics amongst the students and staff of the University. The Forum has arranged many lectures of the eminent educationists, social workers, saints for the benefit of the students and staff.