Assam Agricultural University: A journey to excellence

Tanuj Goswami

Of late the Assam Agricultural University has earned the distinction of being one of the foremost institutions of higher education in the field of plant and animal science and technology. To have recognized an institute of higher learning located in a remote part of India’s North East plagued by host of constraints pertaining to communication, infrastructure, human resources, extremism and a gamut of other factors is rare. Be that as it may, a closer look into the different spheres of the University brings forth a silent crusade and unrelenting drive commandeered and piloted by Dr. K M Bujarbaruah, the Vice Chancellor of the University whose scientific acumen, proactiveness and commendable transformatiol leadership role put the University in high pedestal.

The University by dint of a well cultivated and sustained effort did able to carve out a niche in the league of premier institution of scientific learning in India. Till a decade back the image of the University was barely visible however its spiraling growth trajectory and quality journey to a phenomel extent in terms of academic excellence, high quality research, technology dissemition, infrastructure development, outstanding performance, a plethora of prestigious tiol awards, laurels in the last few years makes one proud to be associated with such a nice institution of repute. An aura of feeling good in the campus of the University environs is the first palpable sign of attitudil change taking place. For the first time students from as many as seven foreign countries took admission in the undergraduate studies

Recent icing on the cake has been the conferment of the prestigious Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award 2014 to the University by the Prime Minister which is closely followed by ‘Best Agricultural Leadership Award’ to the Vice Chancellor of the University by the Union Home Minister. The twin awards has been a great moral booster to the whole AAU community and such outstanding recognition will definitely leverage the thought process of the inspired teaching community, researchers , students and the other stakeholders. Further in order to live up to its hard-earned reputation and ever be at the forefront in a democratic learning institution, the galvanized authority needs to reorient and adapt the time tested ‘Total Quality Magement’ (TQM) in all its functions and processes.

With a transformative leader very much in the saddle- the University is building a strong ground work for merit, quality, accountability and transparency which are the mainstay for a redefined role that the AAU has set itself for. It is worth mentioning here that this year the University’s cut off mark for the under graduate agricultural course shot up to as high as 87% and with a record number of Ph.D students enrolled.

The University is gradually in the process of acquiring a strong value system by adaptation of a number of measures like forging strategic alliance with several foreign institutions and agencies of repute in India undertaking approaches for direct communication and playing an all-time advisory as well as participatory role to the farming communities of Assam.

The University is all set to preposition itself for greater vision and learnt to look back and also set priorities for holistic effort in the face of climatic changes and consequent food insecurity, falling interest in farming activities, massive soil health disturbance, twin problems of flood & erosion which has savagely harmed the Assam’s economy.

The extension network of the University covers 23 Nos. of Krishi Vigyan Kendras and 6 Nos. of Regiol Research Stations in different agro-climatic Zones and 5 Nos. of Commodity Research Station for situation specific local issues manned by highly qualified and trained scientists, technicians, other professiols etc. who have been rendering yeoman service to the principle stakeholders i.e , the farming communities, supplying high quality seeds, all sorts of extension services, providing training for skill and entrepreneurship development, demonstration and technology transfer thereby maintaining strong linkages not only with the hard working and poor farming community but also with the Government and non-government organizations in order to improve the agrarian economy of Assam.

All available modes of media right from the conventiol radio talk, monthly newsletter to video conferencing are put to service for rightful dissemition, direction and guidance in agricultural technology, animal production, livestock magement, sericulture, pisciculture, home science and other related fields. (To be continued)

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