About Junagadh Agricultural Univesity :
The College of Agriculture, Junagadh started functioning in the month of June 1960. The college was affiliated to Gujarat University, Ahmedabad from its inception till the year 1967. Subsequently, on the inception of Saurashtra University in 1968 at Rajkot, the affiliation was transferred to it.
The Gujarat Agricultural University was established in February 1972 with the Statewide mandate for the triple function of Agricultural Education, Research and Extension Education. For strengthening of these activities at the regional level, the Gujarat Agricultural University is separated into four different Agricultural Universities in the State by Gujarat Agricultural University Act-2004. Junagadh Agricultural University is one of them, which came into existence from May 01, 2004.
Junagadh Agricultural University represents ten districts viz., Amreli, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Rajkot, Surendranagar, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Gir Somnath, and Morbi are historically known as Saurashtra, covering about 32.82 percent area of the Gujarat State. The region is endowed with 788 km of sea coast stretching all along from gulf in the North West through the Arabian Sea in the South up to the Gulf of Cambay on the east.
The university is functioning in a typical Arid and Semi-Arid type of climate in the state. Hence, drought, erratic rainfall, low fertility, and salinity ingress are the major constraints limiting productivity and prosperity of the agriculture of this region. The major crops grown in the region are oilseeds (groundnut, sesame, castor), cotton, bajra, wheat and spices followed by mango and sapota among fruits. Saurashtra is the home of the famous breed of cattle, cow (Gir), buffalo (Jafrabadi), goat (Zalawadi) and horse (Kathi).
The University offers education in six faculties viz., Agriculture, Horticulture, Agricultural Engineering & Technology, Fisheries Science, Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry and MBA in Agri-Business Management. In all the faculties, higher education is imparted up to PhD through eight constituent colleges. Six diploma programs are also offered at the polytechnic level in Agriculture, Horticulture, Agro-Processing, Animal Husbandry, Home Science and Agricultural Engineering. Twenty-eight hostels including one International and six girls' hostels are available. The number of girls seeking admissions in the University has immensely increased which is about 34 per cent at present. Other amenities like Central Library, 24-hour Internet Connectivity, Sports Complex, Auditorium, Gymnasium, Health Centre etc. are also available at this campus to provide congenial environment to the students for the overall development of their personality.
To cater to the needs of farmers, research is carried out at 31 research stations, spread over different agro-ecological situations of Saurashtra region. These centres also work for the development of economical and sustainable production technology packages for newly developed varieties/hybrids with its modification every year. The first hybrid bajra and hybrid castor were developed by scientists of this university.
The extension component includes seven Krushi Vigyan Kendras (Jamnagar, Amreli, Targhadia, Khapat, Nana Kandhasar, Pipalia and Morbi), one Sardar Smruti Kendra (Junagadh), Centre of Excellence of Training in Groundnut, Centre of Excellence on Soil-Water Management and a T & V scheme.
For transfer of agriculture and allied technologies, Khedut Shibir, Group Discussion, Farmers Service, Agrometeorological Advisory Services, Crop Demonstrations, Educational Tours, Seminars, Cattle Camps, Film Shows are also arranged under extension education programmes.
