Expert committee recommends unified varsities for farming disciplines in Karnataka

Bengaluru: The Expert Committee on Integration and Re-Organisation of Farm Institutions in Karnataka headed by former Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar has recommended merging the state’s agricultural and horticultural institutions into multi-subject universities. The committee’s report also lays down guidelines on measures to be adopted to bolster rural development in the state.

Pointing out that universities offering courses in agriculture, horticulture, and other related disciplines were operating in silos for the past 20 years, the committee underscored rising support among stakeholders for creation of varsities that catered to students of all 3 disciplines. The panel opined that such universities could offer students a more integrated vision of agriculture, besides educating them on the many complexities of modern farming.

Citing examples of varsities in Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Haryana, the committee said that bringing the disparate disciplines under a single university did not dilute the quality of research conducted at the institutions. Furthermore, the committee recommended incorporating sericulture and forestry research centres in the proposed new varsities, while suggesting addition of veterinary sciences and fisheries in the second phase. 

The committee’s report also highlighted the benefits of Integrated Farming System (IFS), which is aimed at enabling optimal utilisation of resources.

The University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore was established in 1964, and initially offered courses in agriculture, horticulture, veterinary sciences and fisheries. However, a number of specialised universities, apart from the UAS, Dharwad, came into being, such as the University of Horticultural Sciences in Bagalkot, and the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University in Bidar.

This division triggered calls for reorganising farm varsities, and a committee headed by Dr M N Sheelavantar in 2019 recommended integration to promote inter-disciplinary studies, besides highlighting benefits of broader universities for farmers. Although another panel was constituted in 2023, it did not submit a report. The Vijay Bhaskar-headed panel was subsequently constituted in March this year.

Besides recommending integration, the panel has suggested creating departments for fruit sciences, post-harvest management, besides advising payment of a stipend to students.

To ensure hassle-free administration of such unified varsities, the panel has recommended a rotation policy for the appointment of Vice-Chancellors, wherein experts from agriculture, horticulture, and other disciplines will each have their turn at the helm. To ensure equitable distribution of resources across the various government departments, the panel has recommended placing the University of Agriculture and Horticultural Sciences under the Department of Horticulture, with the concerned minister serving as the Pro-Chancellor.

But the report has not found favour among horticulture experts and veterinarians, the latter of whom feel integration could lead to depletion of funds for research, besides running the risk of deregulation by Indian Veterinary Council. Given that veterinarians view their field as a medicinal discipline, they resented suggestions to bring it under agriculture. Horticulture experts too want a dedicated varsity.