Assam Agricultural University - AAU

About Assam Agricultural University - AAU

Assam Agricultural University is the first institution of its kind in the whole of North-Eastern Region of India. During early 20th century, establishment of two research stations, one at Karimganj (1913) and the other at Titabor (1923) paved the way, immediately after independence, towards setting up of the Assam Agricultural College (AAC) at Jorhat and the Assam Veterinary College (AVC) at Nagaon in 1948. Later, on April 1, 1969 the Assam Agricultural University came into being through “The Assam Agricultural University Act, 1968”, renaming AAC as College of Agriculture headquartered at Jorhat and AVC as College of Veterinary Science simultaneously shifting its site from Nagaon to Khanapara. Subsequently, College of Home Science (1969), College of Fisheries(1988), Biswanath College of Agriculture (1988) and Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science (1988) were established. Similarly, few more regional research stations at Shillongani, Diphu, Gossaigaon, Lakhimpur; and commodity research stations at Kahikuchi, Buralikson, Tinsukia, Kharua, Burnihat and Mandira were added to generate location and crop specific agricultural production packages.

Constituent Institutes

• College of Agriculture, Jorhat.
• Biswanath College of Agriculture, Biswanath Chariali.
• College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara.
• Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science, Azad.
• College of Home Science, Jorhat.
• College of Fisheries Science, Raha.

Location  - The University has a number of campuses with its head quarter located at Borbheta at a distance of about 5 km from both bus station and railway station and 2 km from airport of the Jorhat. The city can be reached easily from Guwahati, the capital of Assam, by air/bus/train. The latitude, longitude and altitude of Jorhat are 26°44´N, 94°l0´E and 9l m above mean sea level respectively. Click here for Google Map Location

Faculty

• Agriculture.
• Veterinary Science.
• Home Science.
• Fisheries Science.

Facilities

Accommodation - Regular students are required to stay in hostels provided by the University unless permitted otherwise by the concerned authority. Students are admitted to hostels upon payment of hostel dues (Ref. Section No. 22) at the time of admission to each semester. The hostels are provided with the basic amenities. A student may require a minimum of Rs.800.00 p.m. to meet the expenses on food.

Library - The two libraries of erstwhile Assam Agricultural college, Jorhat and Assam Veterinary college, Khanapara, Guwahati has a vast number of Agriculture/ Home Science, Theses, Periodicals etc. in it's collection. The University Central Library is located at Jorhat which caters to the needs of the students, teachers and scientists of the faculty of Agriculture and Home Science. It also has CD-ROM Databases: CABCD (1990-2001), AGRIS (1975-2001) and Internet (Cyber cafe). In addition, the libraries at other college campuses and research stations such as, Biswanath Chariali, Roha and North - Lakhimpur are also growing satisfactorily.

Bio-informatics Sub-Centre

Facilities include:

1. LAN Server - 1 Unit.
2. PC-Pentium III - 3 Units.
3. PC-Pentium II - 2 Units.
4. Scanner (HP Scanjet) - 1 Units.
5. Laser Printer (HP LaserJet 6L Pro) - 1 Unit.
6. Inject Printer (HP DeskJet 640C) - 1 Unit.
7. Dot Matrix Printer (EPSON DL2400) - 1 Unit.
8. CD-Writer - 1 Unit.

Scholarship, Medals and Awards - Merit Scholarships are awarded by the University to the students. Such Scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit and subject to fulfilment of eligibility criteria as notified. Besides the University Scholarships a good number of other Scholarships, are offered by the State Govt., ICAR, DBT, ITA, TAI and other Agencies. However, a student shall be eligible to accept only one Scholarship.

Some of these are:

• University Gold Medal - All Bachelor’s degree programmes. Eligibility : 1st position amongst the successful candidates with CGPA not less than 8.00 in 10.00 scale.

• Shrimati Nirmala Dutta Memorial Gold Medal - B. Sc (Agri). Eligibility : Highest GPA in the general courses of Tea Husbandry and Technology with CGPA not less than 8.00 in 10.00 scale.

• Late Dr. Kumudaviram Das Memorial Gold Medal - B. Sc (Agri). Eligibility : Highest GPA in the general courses of Plant Breeding  & Genetics with CGPA not less than 8.00 in 10.00 scale.

• Dr. (Miss) G.V. Subaima Memorial Gold Medal - B. Sc (H. Sc.). Eligibility : Highest GPA in the general courses of Food & Nutrition with CGPA not less than 8.00 in 10.00 scale.

For more info - http://www.aau.ac.in/admsn/scholar.htm

Research - The university has two Directorates of Research, viz., Directorate of Research (Agri) and Directorate of Research (Vety.), with their head quarters at Jorhat and Khanapara respectively. The Directorate of Research (Agri.) coordinates and administers the research activities in agriculture and home science, while Directorate of Research (Vety) looks after the research works in veterinary and fisheries. The research is carried out on all the important agricultural commodities, natural resources and problems connected with their development to meet the diverse needs of the farming community of the state. For conducting need based, situation specific and problem oriented research, the state has been delineated into six agro-climatic zones with one Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) dedicated to conduct and coordinate the research activities for each of the zones. Moreover, for commodities of significant importance in the state, there are six commodity research stations as well. The research is undertaken by the zonal and commodity research stations as well as different departments in the constituent colleges. Each of the research stations has fairly good acreage of land for research and production activities.

Extension Education Institute - The Extension Education Institute (EEI), Jorhat is one of the four Regional Training Centers funded by Directorate of Extension, Govt. of India, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi. It imparts training for middle level extension functionaries of land based departments and trainers of state level training centres.

Extension Education Communication and Extension Teaching methods:

• Preparation and use of Audio Visual Aids.
• Training methods and Management of Training Programmes.
• Participatory Communication Approach and PRA Techniques .
• Farm Journalism.
• Entrepreneurship Development.
• Extension Management.

Extension Programmes and Activities:

Some of these are:

• KVK - Krishi Vigyan Kendras.

• STAP - Small Tea Growers' Advisory Programme.

• FWTC - Farm Women Training Centre.

• BRIDDHI - A farmer friendly website named "BRIDDHI" (http://briddhi.org/) has been launched where the technologies so far developed at AAU in the field of agriculture, animal science, home science, fishery and sericulture have been digitized in Assamese language with funding from the World Bank under Assam Agriculture Competitive Project (AACP).

• ATIC - Agricultural Technology Information Centre was established to provide information on technologies developed by AAU to farmers through a single window delivery system. A total of over 5120 farmers have visited the Centre during the period 2007-08. The Centre also sells quality seeds of different HYVs, vegetable seeds, panting materials, bio-fertilizers, vermicompost and products like tea, black pepper, honey etc.

• GSTC - Gram Sevika Training or the Farm Women Training Centre conducts orientation training and Job-training courses for Anganwadi Workers. It conducted training on Applied Nutrition for Extension Officers, Women Workers and Farm Women.The training center is recognized as an Anganwadi Workers Training Centre for the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS).

• Felicitation Centre on Medicinal Plants - It has been sponsored by National Medicinal Plant Board and established at the Directorate of Extension Education. Four trainings have been conducted under this project covering about 100 farmers of various districts of Assam.

Admission of Foreign Candidates including NRI

1.  Foreign Candidates - Foreign Candidates seeking admission shall forward their applications through their respective Embassy/Mission at New Delhi or through the respective Indian missions abroad to the Govt. of India/ICAR and their candidature shall be considered only if they are sponsored/cleared by the Govt. of India/ICAR. Necessary fees shall be charged at the rates prescribed by the ICAR for the foreign candidates. Eligibility for admission of foreign students is as per qualifications prescribed by the University. A good knowledge of English is essential. A certificate of the candidates’ proficiency in English issued by the respective Indian mission abroad or recognized agencies should accompany their applications for admission. Foreign students should arrive one week before the start of the academic session to acquaint themselves with the activities of the College and to attend the orientation programme. They should contact the Dean of the respective Colleges upon arrival for obtaining guidance in different matters.

2.  NRI Candidates - All other conditions remaining unchanged, NRI candidates seeking admission shall forward their applications through the respective Indian Mission abroad to the Govt. of India/ICAR and their candidature shall be considered only if they are sponsored/cleared by the Govt. of India/ICAR. Eligibility for admission of NRI candidates is as per qualifications prescribed by the University. A good knowledge of English is essential. A certificate of the candidate's proficiency in English issued by the respective Indian Mission abroad or recognized agencies shall accompany their applications for admission. NRI candidates should arrive one week before the start of the academic session to acquaint themselves with the activities of the College and to attend the Orientation programme. They should contact the Dean of the respective colleges upon arrival for obtaining guidance in different matters. The NRI candidates if selected shall pay the fee of Rs. 5.00 lakhs in three instalments -first one for Rs. 2.5 lakhs at the time of admission into the 1st year class and the other two for Rs. 1.25 lakhs each at the time of admission into 2nd and 3rd year class of the degree programme.

Sports, Recreation and Social Service - To enrich cultural, literary, physical and social life of the students, the University provides facilities for gymnastics, games and sports, music study circle, drama etc. The University teams are offered facilities for participation in local, regional and national sports and games. The co-curricular activities such as games, sports, athletics, drama, social service etc. are arranged by the student’s society in each college. NSS Programmes are organized in each college in which willing students are enrolled as volunteers.
 
Medical Facilities - There is provision for medical care and health service in each of the Colleges.
 
Students Aid Fund - With a view to rendering financial aid to students in distress, a students' aid fund has been instituted in each college. All students are required to contribute in the fund at the beginning of each academic year.
 
Students' College Society/Union - All students admitted to the college automatically become members of the student’s society/union and are entitled to participate in the society election. All students are required to pay the students college society fee at the beginning of each academic year.
 
Students Magazine - The students’ college societies of each college publish a magazine to encourage creativity of the students. The students are to pay the magazine fee at the beginning of each academic year.
 
Educational Tour - There is provision of educational tour for UG and PG students.
 
NCC/NSS - Every under-graduate student of 1st and 2nd year classes of Faculty of veterinary Science has to undergo the N.C.C. training as prescribed in syllabus. However, in case of foreign students, attendance in N.C.C. is exempted. Students of the Faculties of Agriculture,   Home Science and Fisheries shall have to participate in N.S.S. programmes in lieu of N.C.C.

Students' Welfare - The students' welfare activities in all the constituent colleges of the university are looked after by the Directorate of Students' Welfare. The students' welfare activities of the entire university were brought under one umbrella by creating the Directorate of Students' Welfare headed by an Associate Director after three more colleges viz. (i) College of Fisheries at Raha, Nagaon; (ii) Biswanath College of Agriculture at Biswanath Chariali, Sonitpur and (iii) Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science at Aza.

Placement Cell - The Cell organizes training programmes on Personality Development, Communication Skills, Leadership and such other areas. The Cell facilitates Campus interviews and Placement in various government and non government organizations. Large number of the graduate and post graduate students of this University have been placed in different organizations involved in Research and Development, Business, Banking areas in agriculture, College of Veterinary Science, College of Fishery Science and College of Home science and all of them have undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.