Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (now Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya) is an Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) accredited and ISO 9001:2000 certified institution. It was established on 1st November, 1978. The College of Agriculture (established in May, 1966) formed the nucleus of new farm University.
The University has been given the mandate for making provision for imparting education in agriculture and other allied branches of learning, furthering the advancement of learning and prosecution of research and undertaking extension of such sciences, especially to the rural people of Himachal Pradesh.
Over the years, this University has contributed significantly in transforming the farm scenario of Himachal Pradesh. Today, the State has earned its name for hill agricultural diversification and the farming community has imposed its faith in the University.
The University has four constituent colleges. The College of Agriculture has 12 departments, Dr.G.C.Negi College of Veterinary & Animal Science has 18 departments, the College of Home Science has five departments and the College of Basic Sciences has six departments. These colleges offer four Bachelor Degree programmes and the Dean, Post Graduate Studies offers 30 Masters Degree & 16 Doctoral Degree programmes. Almost 800 students are on roll and more than 4300 students have passed out from the University since its inception.
The Directorate of Research coordinates research in the field of agriculture, veterinary and animal sciences, home science and basic sciences. It has been giving priority to location specific, need based and problem oriented research with multi disciplinary approach at main campus Palampur, 5 research stations (Bajaura, Dhaulakuan, Kukumseri, Sangla and Kangra) and 9 sub-stations (Malan, Nagrota, Salooni, Akrot, Berthin, Sundernagar, Katrain, Leo and Lari) spread over in all districts of the state (except Solan and Shimla).
The University has developed need-based technology for the different regions of the State and has released 116 improved varieties of different crops and work is in progress on a large number of crops. More than 4000 quintal breeder seed of different crop varieties is produced and supplied to the State Department of Agriculture for further multiplication and making it available among the farming community, every year. The University has released 10 improved agricultural tools to reduce drudgery in farming. Over 60 farm technologies have been recommended to the farmers. Successful research work has been done on natural resources management, animal diseases control, animal breeding, etc. and perfect technology has been developed for different regions of the State to enhance crop and animal production. Despite constant decrease in area under farming, crop yields have increased
The Directorate of Extension Education shares the responsibility for planning, implementation and coordination of various extension education programmes of all the departments of four constituent colleges and research stations in close collaboration with the State Departments of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and other concerned departments and institutions. It conducts a large number of trainings for farmers, livestock keepers, farm ladies, rural youth, etc at main campus and at its eight Krishi Vigyan Kendras (Farm Science Centres) at Bajaura, Dhaulakuan, Hamirpur, Una, Mandi, Kangra, Berthin and Kukumseri. Agricultural Technology Information Center is serving as single window service to the farmers.
Due to the strenuous efforts during the past twenty-nine years, the state has traversed new paths of progress and has become almost self sufficient on the food front. Harvests have become bountiful and the socio-economic status of the farming community has undergone a sea change.
Dr.Tej Partap, Vice-Chancellor, says that the Farmer shall continue to be at the center-stage in the all-major plans of the University. Research and Extension Education shall be made more relevant to concerns, needs and opportunities of the State farmers. He disclosed that the University is planning to reach all those villages/areas/regions where so far it has not marked its presence (like Dodra Kawar, Pangi, Malana , etc.).Efforts shall be made to provide food security to the inhabitants of such remote and inaccessible areas with new technology, crop varieties and training programmes.
The Vice-Chancellor assured that effective steps would be taken for quick transfer of the relevant technology to the farmers. The University intends to start major research and extension work on organic farming. There is proposal to establish an Institute on Organic Farming. He has requested the farming community to provide him feedback about the working of the University and give suggestions to serve them in a better way.
Dr.Tej Partap said that all-out efforts are under-way to make this University as Best Hill Agriculture University in the country. Efforts are also on to get CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University converted as Central University of Hill Agriculture and Technology Sciences.
University will celebrate Foundation Day on 1st Nov.,2007.
