Indian Agricultural Universities Association

Member Universities

University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore (Karnataka)



Name of the University

 University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka

Year of establishment

20-10-1964

The University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore was established through University Act. No. 22 of the then Mysore Government in the year 1963 with jurisdiction of entire State. The University came into existence on 20 October 1964.

 Vision                               

Transforming University of Agricultural Sciences Bangaluru into World Class Farm University.

 

Mission

Generate quality human resource in the area of agriculture and allied disciplines, generate cutting - edge competitive technologies and evolve efficient disseminating mechanism so as to serve the farming community of the State and the country. Mandate of the university included making provision for imparting education towards development of quality human resource in different branches of agriculture and allied sciences, furthering the advancement of learning and conducting research, particularly in agriculture and other allied sciences, promoting partnership and linkages with national and international educational, industries, research and other institutions, such other purposes as the State Government may by notification in the official gazette specify from time to time, undertaking the extension education of such science and technologies, especially for the rural people of the State.

 

 

 

Jurisdiction / Area of operation

The University has geographical jurisdiction of 10 (Ten) Districts in the State of Karnataka. The districts are; Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru Urban, Kolar, Chikkaballpura, Tumukuru, Ramanagara, Mandya, Hassan, Mysuru and Chamarajanagara and all these falls under Agro-climatic Zones -4, 5, 6 and 7 comprising of nearly 50 Lakh hectares of the total geographical area of the State.

 

Educational programmes offered: UG/PG/Ph. D/Diploma

·         UG Programmes: 07

o   B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture

o    B.Tech. (Agri. Engg.)

o    B.Sc. (Hons.) Sericulture 

o    B. Tech. (Biotechnology)

o   B. Tech. (Food Technology)

o    B.Sc. (Hons.) Agri. Business Management

o   B.Sc. (Hons.) Food, Nutrition & Dietetics.

·         o   M.Sc. (Agriculture) in Agril. Economics

o   Agril. Extension Education

o    Entomology

o    Microbiology

o   Agronomy

o   Plant Physiology

o   Food Science and Nutrition

o   Genetics and Plant Breeding

o   Horticulture

o   Plant Pathology

o   Seed Science & Technology

o   Sericulture

o   Soil Science

o   Agril. Marketing & Cooperation

o   Apiculture

o   Bio-informatics

o   Forestry & Environmental Science

o   Biochemistry

o   Agriculture Statistics

o   MBA in Agri. Business Management

o   M. Tech in Processing & Food Engineering

o   M. Tech in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering

o   M. Tech in Farm Machinery & Power Engineering

o   Molecular

o   Biology & Biotechnology

o   Agril. Meteorology

 

·         Ph. D Programme: 17

o   Ph. D. in Agril. Economics

o   Agril. Extension Education

o   Entomology

o    Microbiology

o   Agronomy

o    Plant Physiology

o   Food Science and Nutrition

o    Genetics and Plant Breeding

o    Horticulture

o    Plant Pathology

o    Seed Science & Technology

o    Sericulture

o    Soil Science

o    Molecular Biology & Biotechnology

o    Forestry and Environmental Sciences

o    Biochemistry

o    Agribusiness Management

 

Major Areas of Research

Farmer Centric Research Programmes have been addressed by the Scientists located in 12 Agricultural Research Stations spread over in 10 Southern Districts of the State under the jurisdiction of University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru. Presently, the research focus is on targeted crop improvement and tailoring agro-techniques suitable to the changed climatic scenario and market driven secondary agriculture by reorienting its research activities through:

·         Generation of genetic and genomic resources in mandate crops including whole genome sequencing, genome editing, transcriptome, metabolomes and haplotypes of specific genes, etc, that can be utilized for crop improvement.

·         Phytosynthesis of nanoparticles and application of nanotechnology in agriculture.

·         Developing climate resilient, soil conserving and water saving technologies for sustainable production.

·         Metabolic profiling of agriculturally important microorganisms for better utilization in crop production practices.

·         Developing engineering solutions for both large and marginal holding that reduce drudgery and enhance efficiency.

·         Digital and Internet based algorithms and solutions for agriculture.

·         Rediscovering traditional foods with scientific validation.

·         Synthesis of multi-nutrient rich value added products and plant based meat analogues.

·         Gender partnership in agriculture and gender sensitization.

 

Highlights of Extension Education (Activities- (including number of KVKs, training programmes / certificate courses etc.}

The University has well organized extension network with nested institutes across the jurisdictional districts for providing defined mandated extension functions for agriculture development.

The Directorate Extension has the following Extension Units to  carry out the planned activities; Seven (7) Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) at; Hassan, Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapura, Ramanagara, Tumakuru, Chamarajnagar and Mandya districts, ; one Farm Information Unit (FIU), Staff Training Unit (STU), Bakery Training Unit (BTU),  National Agricultural Extension Project (NAEP), Distance Education Unit (DEU) ,State Agriculture Management and Extension Training Institute (SAMETI) and  Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) Farmers Training Institute (FTI), Agricultural Sciences Museum at GKVK, Bengaluru and Extension Education Unit (EEU) at Mysuru.  The brief functional highlights of each of the segmented units are here under.

·         KVKs conducted 24 on farm testing of technologies on various crops to different locations and factors where in 92 farmers in an area of 27.83 ha.

·         130 Front line technology demonstrations were organized involving 1302 farmers in an area of 313.45 Ha on crop improvement, crop production crop protection, fodder production, value addition process, cereals, pulses, oil seeds, sericulture, livestock rearing and home science activities in one school and with SHGS.

·         Organized 268 need based on campus training for 10543 farmers on various aspects   agricultural production and process. Similarly, 263 off-campuses training to benefit 8208 farmers.

·         Organized, 28 on campus training to 1173 extension functionaries of line departments, NGO etc.  on various aspects of agriculture and allied activities.

·         Organized 151 group discussion meetings, 1018 field visits, 122 diagnostic visits, 16 workshops, 31 exhibitions, consultancy to 28400 farmers, 110 field days, 226 method demonstrations, 07 animal health camps, 12 soil health camps, 19 bimonthly workshops, and 172 SMS were sent to 67024 registered farmers.

·         Delivered 801 lectures as resource persons, 322 newspapers coverage, 67 extension literature published and organized 65 exposure visits to farmers.

 

 

Diploma and Certificate courses offered

·         One Year Post Graduate Diploma in Agriculture (PGDA) course registered by 14 candidates and 11 have completed.

·         One Year Diploma in Agriculture course registered by 331 candidates and 277 have completed.

·         Organic Farming course registered by 53 candidates and 53 have completed.

·         Seed Production Technologies in Agriculture course registered by 24 candidates and 24 have completed.

·         Agricultural Equipment Maintenance course registered by 14 candidates and 14 have completed.

 

 Impact of training and demonstrations

 

·         Due to the training programme the average knowledge gained by the participants performed to the 18-26%.

·         Training Management Efficiency Index (TMEI) and Subject Matter Efficiency index was found to be 96-98%.

·         The demonstration conducted it was found that the percentage increased in yields of crops over farmers practice ranges from 6.85 to 28.57%.

·         The technology dissemination to the neighbouring farmers was found to be ranges from 9-13%.

                 

Strength of the University

With the possible support from ICAR and Government of Karnataka and also from other research projects funded by DBT, DST etc., the University could create state of art of class rooms, laboratories, seminar halls field laboratories, irrigation facilities, sports & games, cultural facilities, and library with advanced facilities, networking both in colleges as well as in the hostels for the overall development of student community. The students have excelled in academics, sports and cultural activities by registering their credentials by securing a greater number of JRF, SRF (with high ranking at All India Level) and have won championships with trophies and medals. The University has been bestowed with several awards at National level recognizing its contributions in diversified areas.             

·         Agricultural colleges are located in the rural settings for a better interaction with farming community and to acquire practical skills by the students and also to have a feedback for formulating research projects of need base by the University.

·         Research based teaching in all courses by learned and experienced faculty, Structured Course and syllabus to suite to contemporary and with mechanisms to make it effective through ICT enabled learning environment.

·         Broad spectrum courses help in the overall development of the students. Adopted proactive approach in updating course curricula in line with changing needs and also as per ICAR guidelines from time to time.

·         Colleges enjoys an ideal student-teacher ratio, favouring individual peer–assisted learning and coaching with better class room, laboratory and field facilities, research ambience for pursuit of excellence; sports, games and cultural facilities.

·         The faculty is aptly qualified, talented, knowledgeable and dedicated with high motivational level, diverse skills and competence, demonstrate discipline and Professionalism. Actively participate, collaborative and communicate, display scholarly traits, work with commitment creating a positive learning environment and enjoy high reputation in the academia.

·           Faculty has strong research potential with proven records of high quality research and quality publications. Enjoys ample academic freedom for interdisciplinary research.

·           Very well-organized welfare programmes, good amenities and counseling system/s to address students’ problems / grievances for overall development of student.   

·            Coaching classes are conducted for various competitive examinations. Student competence index in terms of securing national competitive fellowships for postgraduate studies, securing admissions in universities abroad for higher education and succeeding in ARS and Civil examinations.

·         Well equipped Library facilities [CERA, MyLOFT, Digitization of Books], seamless access to e-resources of the world’s leading online journal databases through EZproxy, Member of Online Computer Library Centre through WorldCat, Complete automation with Koha Open Source Software package with RFID -Library -Internet / Wifi facilities linked to all Hostels and colleges.   

·         Institutional competence status enhanced by recognition/s / award/s of State and National level, resulting in students excelling in academic and extracurricular activities.

·         Research Scientists and infrastructures available in different schemes (30-AICRPs) are the added advantages to offer regular as well as specialized courses.

·         DBT sponsored Bio-Resource Complex model is the first ever unit aimed at farm level integration of technology and marketing.

·         Indian Bio-resource Information Net-work, the largest database on Biodiversity in the country is hosted at UAS (www.ibib.gov.in).

·         Well organized extension network across the jurisdictional districts to disseminate both   physical inputs and technical knowhow on livelihood farming systems production process.

·         UASB has collaboration with twenty eight international institutes. Alumni of the university are spread around the globe and coordinate with UASB through our Alumni cell in forging ties with top Agricultural Universities and Institutes.

·         UAS. Bengaluru is choosen as a destination for higher education by majority of ICAR Students and Foreign nationals of Africa, Middle East and Asian region.

·         Green Initiatives in the University include Green Certificate program, App based e-cycles, e-scooters and Battery-operated Buggy, installed solar power generation units, Solar water heating system, Solar Street lights, Solar photovoltaic pumping system, biogas power plant, 2730 LED lights to conserve 1016 units of energy/ day.

 

Major Contribution and achievements (in terms of Product, Technology and process)

·         The University has developed and released 321 crop varieties of which 140 are in cereals, 5 in potential crops, 54 in pulses, 40 in oil seeds, 34 in commercial crops, 14 in fodder crop and 34 in varieties in Horticultural crops. Further, 07 animal breeds have been released. 14 agreements have by signed by UASB with different companies to commercially sell 6 hybrids developed by UASB. 

·         The first inter-specific cotton hybrid (DCH-3) to be released anywhere in the world was developed by UASB. University initiated heterosis breeding involving CMS lines in sunflower, as a result UASB pioneered in developing BSH-1, the first CMS based sunflower hybrid in the country.

·         A unique combination of Indian and African gene pools led to the development of Indaf and GPU series of finger millet (Ragi) varieties which changed the economic landscape of millet growing farmers in the rainfed cropping system of India. MR series of Finger millet, BRG series in pigeonpea, HA series in field bean and hybrids in Rice (KRH series), sunflower (KBSH series) and maize (MAH & NAH series) are some of the other major flag bearers.

·         University has 15 patents to its credit. Of this, 9 are Indian patents, 4 are from Australia and one each from US and Germany.

·         UASB has the credit of pioneering in sequencing both crop plants [Finger Millet (ML-365) & Horsegram (PHG-9): Sequenced / decoded for the first time in the World] and pathogens/ microbes [Yellow Mite- attempted for the first time to decode with good qualitative & quantitative genomic DNA and necessary genomic libraries of appropriate size have been created] which are available for the scientific community to improve the traits and thereby increase the production.

·         Food based technologies (More than 50) including ready to cook and serve food products and bakery confectionaries from maize, millets, quinoa, chia, moringa, jack and coconut are available for sale. Till date 18 agreements have been signed to transfer the process and production technology of 34 products.

·         UASB has developed more than 25 farm machineries & implements viz., seed-cum-fertilizer drill, harvester, dehullers, decorticators, dehuskers and solar dryers for direct farm use and Processing Industry which are available for licensing by interested entrepreneurs. Two companies have signed an agreement to obtain the licence of 22 equipments.

·         A basket of more than 450 sustainable farming technologies developed by the University have transformed the landscape of the rainfed agriculture in Southern India by ensuring livelihood of farming community. Production technologies developed for dry land agriculture have helped in stabilizing farm productivity even in sparse rainfall years. UASB has also developed several low costs, eco-friendly technologies for managing pests and diseases. Most serious pests on rice, ragi, maize, have been tackled in the recent past. Some of the noted contributions are listed below,

ü  Redefined the Drought Declaration Criteria: GOI has Updated Manual for Drought Management 2016 and revised the criteria for declaration of drought in the country based on recommendations from UASB (research during the period 2011-2017).

ü  Silicon in Soil and Plant Nutrition: UASB has established crop response to external application of Silicon. This enabled more than 50 companies in India to produce and make silicon products suitable for Indian agriculture. Accordingly, the Central Fertilizer Committee, GoI, included Silicon components in Fertilizer Control Order.

1.      Diatomite Amorphous Silica in S. O. 1446 (E) dated 2017

2.      Orthosilicic acid (2.0% WSL) in S. O. 5887 (E) dated 2018 & FCO, 2019b

ü  Agro-climatic Atlas of Karnataka: Atlases serves as baseline and presents detailed Climate & Soil information and Agricultural scenario at micro and meso scale in 176 taluks of Karnataka. It serves as dictionary of weather that could be used by line departments.

ü  LRI atlases (Kannada & English) have been generated for 423 micro watersheds. 3 Hydrological stations at Halayapura, Devanayakanahalli and Yarehalli were established. Nearly 81,550 LRI cards were generated and distributed to the farmers.

·         UASB has developed mobile apps viz., Farm Calculator with more than 1.57 lakh downloads, 3,800 Scientists from SAUs and Seed Companies have downloaded the Seed Chain Calculator app while 1,200 Scientists from SAUs and Seed Companies have downloaded the Seed Blending Calculator. Beej Aadhar app, a Common seed platform has till date recorded with 16,000 downloads with 30 seed companies, 112 dealers, 500 seed producing framers. Till date more than 100 users has downloaded the Diabetic app from play store. Agricultural Pest Prediction and Advisory app is under renewal where older version has recorded 480 downloads.

 

Awards / prizes/ championship- trophies /Recognition/s

·           Sardar Patel outstanding ICAR institution award – 2001 & 2012 by ICAR New Delhi

·           UAS, Bangalore was awarded with FIVE STAR institution award by the Department of Higher Education, GoK during 2020-21

·           Chaudhury Devi Lal Outstanding AICRP Award for AICRP on Post Harvest Technology-2009 by ICAR, New Delhi

·           Environmental Excellence Award -2012 By Karnataka Pollution Control Board, GOK.

·           ICAR - Chaudhary Devi Lal Outstanding All India Coordinated Research Project Award for AICRP on Dryland Agriculture in 2021

·           Best AICRP centre award for Seed technology research (2016), Small millets (2017 & 2022), Agroforestry (2017), Agrometeorology (2018 & 2019), Dryland Agriculture (2019), Forage crops (2018, 2021 & 2022), Post-harvest & Engineering technology (2019 & 2022), Sugarcane (2019) and Weed management (2023)

·           Best TSP center award for AICRP on Honeybees and Pollinators in 2022

·           Best AICRP (Oilseeds) centre for the five years (2017-2021)

·           ICAR’s Best KVK Award (biennium 2002-2003) for KVK – Kandali, Hassan

·           ICAR’s Best KVK Regional Award: 2012 -13 for KVK, Bangalore Rural District Under Zone-VIII

·           ICAR’s Best KVK Award (Under Zone-VIII) for KVK, Bangalore Rural District during 2014-15

·           KVK, Ramanagara received 2nd Best National KVK award by ICAR during 2020-21

 

Niche area of excellence

·         Karnataka state’s maiden hatchery of Genetically Improved Farm Thilapia (GIFT) is established at UASB. It is the only all male seed production hatchery for GIFT, in the State

·         UASB is the only SAU in the State, offering hands-on training on freshwater pearl culture

·         Occurrence of Fall Army Worm, Spodoptera frugiperda on Maize crop, a New Invasive Pest in Karnataka was first reported by UASB

·         Hydroponic systems are customized and modified according to recycling and reuse of nutrient solution and supporting media

·         Pioneer in Dry land Agriculture and development of watershed management models

·         Integrated Centre for Drought Research: Genetic enhancement of crops by molecular approaches and phenotyping- a national facility first of its kind in Asia supported by ICAR in the Department of Crop Physiology

·         Centre of Excellence in Millets -addresses the role of millets and other small grains in securing food and nutritional security in southern part   of   India

·         Well established phonemics facility for developing climate resilient crop varieties

·         Bio-fuel Park pioneers the concept of bio-fuels in farming systems of Karnataka for energy security, soil and water conservation and reduced consumption of fossil fuels.  The model is shared with other countries

·         Organic Farming Research station with Incubation unit for production of   biofertilizers has been established at Nagenahalli, Mysore District

·         National Seed Project (crops) NSP established at GKVK campus, for quality seed production and supply

·         Jaggary Park – Value addition process – Post Harvest Technology

·         Water Technology Centre – water stress research / drought tolerance

·         Integrated Farming System

·         Bio-resource Complex Model first ever unit aimed at farm level integration of technology and marketing

·         Post-harvest processing and value addition in grain and fruit crops

·         Bioenergy research and quality assurance lab

·         Farm machinery testing centre

·         Quality testing lab for micro irrigation components

·         Seed health and purity testing Lab

·         30 All India Coordinated Research Projects on different crops agri –horti-silvi- pasture crops are in operation

 

Status of Autonomy

 Autonomous

Funding support received (From state and other agencies)

Grants received by UASB (in lakhs) during 2022-23

The university being the state university receives the fund from Government of Karnataka, Further, being Accredited by Indian Council of Agricultural Research as developmental grants and through AICRP projects and adhoc -project receives grants. Besides, also source out fund from the Government of India –DBT / DST / CSIR / NABARD etc., public sectors/ private sector   and international agencies through collaborative projects.

 

Funding support received (From state and other agencies) Rs. in crore.

2022-23    : State Govt     - 297.87

        ICAR           - 40.79

       Other funding - 128.15

              Total Funding - 466.81

Faculty position

                                      Sanctioned    : 605

                                      In position     : 360

                                      Vacant           : 245

 

Student intake

                                    UG      : 1096

                                    PG       :   402

                                    Ph. D.  :   145

 

Contact details

 

Name of the vice-chancellor             :  Dr S.V. Suresha

Telephone (O)                                    : 080-23332442

Telephone (R)                                    : 080-23331341

Fax                                                      : 080-23330277

Email                                                  :vc@uasbangalore.edu.in

sureshauas@gmail.com

                         vcuasb1964@gmail.com

Website                                               : www.uasbangalore.edu.in