India is an agricultural nation. More than 80 percent of people in rural India depend on agriculture and allied activities as their primary source of income. About 52 percent of the labour force is employed by it. Between 14 and 15 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is its contribution. At the time of independence, there was a lack of food grains and since then, India's agricultural sector has grown exponentially since 1966. Despite a growing population, India currently is self-sufficient in the majority of food grains.
Gaining competence in adoption of modern agriculture technologies is great challenge for many of our farmers as farming is turning-out to be knowledge-based and market-oriented. India does need education at all levels to better prepare its farmers to face the challenges and also to tap the potential due to globalization. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with dozens of agro-products, posing a threat to Indian farmers who are in need to equip themselves with latest trends and technologies to tackle the competition. Farmers of every region should specialize themselves with the help of various institutions such as government, non- government and private industries.
In order to address these issues well trained, equipped and competent human resources are needed. With the primary goals of providing agricultural education and addressing the Union Territory's needs for agricultural research and extension, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture (PAJANCOA) was founded in 1987 at Karaikal in the Union Territory of Puducherry. The institute, registered as PAJANCOA&RI, is making every effort to bring about paradigm shifts in agricultural education in the UT in specific and nation in general. Governed by PAJANCOA (Karaikal) society with the Chief Secretary, Govt. of Puducherry as the Chairman, the institution is accredited by ICAR (NAEAB) and affiliated with Pondicherry, University in Puducherry for upholding its academic standards.
Course Offerings
In order to cope up with the emerging potential in the agricultural sector's, the facilities at PAJANCOA, committed teaching staff and pro-active learning environment are working together to alleviate the difficulties being faced in the education sector in general and the agricultural graduation in particular. In order to overcome the obstacles in education and make the learning more enthusiastic, students are properly counseled and guided in education and extracurricular and co-curricular activities, together helps in improving their second skill which makes the students to focus more on their studies without any stress.
This institute is offering B.Sc. (Hons.) in Agriculture and B.Sc. (Hons.) in Horticulture and six post-graduation courses, i.e., Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Entomology, Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Breeding & Genetics, and Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry. The teaching method of this institute ensures that all its students receive hands-on training. The students are allowed to use/handle numerous facilities such as, farm tools, including mechanical seed drills, weeders, insect repositories, greenhouses, experimental, and demonstration plots, such as High Density Planting, organic fields, IFS units, poultry units, mushroom unit, computer facilities, gymnasium, library, and so on. The lecture halls are fully furnished with latest smart projectors, video conferencing facilities, interactive boards.
Supporting the students is always in the fore front. The institute supports students by providing scholarships and stipends. A scholarship of Rs.2000 per month is given to postgraduate students, while an undergraduate student's of final year is given with a stipend of Rs.2000 per month for the RAWE program and Rs.3500 per student for the All-India Study Tour. Apart from this students are given with necessary updates regarding various scholarships available to them, particularly the are encouraged to use the National Scholarship Portal of the GOI for scholarships, NGOs, and others.
The institute organizes EDP programs with NAARM, MANAGE tot the young entrepreneurs and soft skill training for students. During the RAWE, the students are placed in processing industries, manufacturing industries, agri-clinics, FPOs, and more, for their industrial attachment programme.
"Following a precisely articulated theory and practical syllabus, PAJANCOA allocates no less than three faculty members per course, either online or offline"
Empowering Educators while Nurturing the Future Leaders
PAJANCOA is always keen on the development of the faculties. This institute frequently conducts various Faculty Development Programs. The faculties are also encouraged to attend various FDPs organized by reputed institutions like NAARM and other conventional institutes, which helps them to improve the competency, quality, and knowledge. Apart from this, frequent programs by experts in the respective fields are arranged for the faculties and PG students to upgrade their knowledge. Short presentations are also arranged among faculties to discuss the latest development in education, and also in their respective fields. Periodical review of the departments and individual staff members by the Dean helps to proceed the right path of this institute.
Partnering is another mile stole for excellence. PAJANCOA inked MoU with ATAL incubation center, Puducherry Technological University, Puducherry, MANAGE, ICAR institutes, and other industries to collaborate with various extension and research projects. The institute is in the process of starting a Ph.D. course which would result in exponential skill growth and dynamics sectors linking various research institutions for research collaboration with national & international institutions.
Dr. A. Pouchepparadjou, Dean
Dr. Anandan Pouchepparadjou is specialized in Natural Resource and Environmental Economics. He completed his M.Sc. (Agri) at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru and Ph.D from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. He was trained at premier institutes Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), Mumbai, Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), New Delhi and World Bank US. He is recipient of ten awards and fellowship in the field including two NFP Fellowships from Government of the Netherlands.
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