Dr. P.L. Patil

Vice-Chancellor, UAS, Dharwad

University of Agricultural Sciences, Yettinagudda Campus, Krishinagar, Dharwad – 580 005  (Karnataka) 
Phone (O) : +91- 836 – 2447783, 2214201    Fax : +91- 836 – 2448349
E-mail: vc@uasd.in

The UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, DHARWAD (UASD) has been the dream of people, farmers and students of north Karnataka come true on October 1, 1986, when it was formally established on the campus of College of Agriculture, Dharwad. 

The University has its jurisdiction over seven districts namely Bagalkot, Belgaum, Bijapur, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, and Uttar Kannada in northern Karnataka with five Colleges, six Diploma Courses in Agriculture, 30 Research Stations, six Extension Education Units (EEU), five Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) and a Agricultural Technology Information Center (ATIC). The jurisdiction of the University is spread over dry-farming to heavy rainfall and irrigated areas with great diversity in soil types, climate, topography cropping and farming situations. The area under University jurisdiction accounts for 28 % of geographical area, 27% of total cultivated area and 14% of the irrigated area in the state. A number of agricultural, horticultural and plantation crops, spices and condiments, medicinal and aromatic plants are being cultivated. Important crops of the region include sorghum, cotton, rice, pulses, chilli, sugarcane, groundnut, sunflower, wheat, safflower and horticultural crops.
The University performs integrated functions of teaching, research and extension in agriculture and allied disciplines. It is known for its quality education in agriculture as is evidenced by the output of high quality graduates going out of the portals of the University every year. Alumni, the proud products and torch bearers of the University, have spread worldwide and occupied coveted positions in prestigious organizations in India and abroad and serving with dedication. The research programme of the University is mainly applied in nature for solving problems of farming community.  Emphasis is also placed on basic research to support applied research for tackling fundamental problems. Adaptive research is undertaken for developing and refinement of newly developed technology under farmers’ field condition, validation and ensuring acceptance. The University has earned a high reputation for its activities and achievements in transfer of technology. This has been possible because of working closely with farming community and other stake holders including the Government Departments and civil society agencies. 

In the last 27 years, more than 10,000 students have been graduated from this University, receiving Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees. The University has released more than 175 improved crop varieties and about 600 other technologies that have benefited the farming community not only across the state and country but also in other countries like Indonesia. Our outreach wings like the Krishi Vigyana Kendras and the Extension Education Units provide useful technologies and services to the farmers and the officials of line departments by providing different training activities. 

The University has won several prestigious awards namely; National Productivity Award (1986-87);  Sardar Patel Outstanding Institution Award (2000); Indira Gandhi National NSS Award (2001), CGIR King Baudouin Award (2002) and ICRISAT’s Doreen Mashlar Award (2002) for Chickpea improvement; All India Higher number of Junior Research Fellowships of ICAR (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2009-10); ICRISAT Research Partnership Award (2010); Mahindra Samurdhi Krishi Siksha Samman Award (2013); and Jawaharlal Nehru Awards (14) for outstanding doctoral research. It has established more than a dozen National and International Academic collaborations with reputed institutions to further academic excellence.  

The University has carved a niche for itself on the national and international scene. Among the Agricultural Universities in India and abroad, our University is well known by virtue of its high academic standards, research achievements and effective transfer of technology. I place on record my gratitude to all my predecessors for their efforts in laying firm foundation for this great institution and facilitating its progress over the decades. 

The University has achieved a tremendous success since inception. At the same time, I believe there is no need for complacency. We need to focus on the new challenges and demands of the farming community that are emerging with local and global changes. The thrust areas would be increasing farm productivity, enhancing farmers’ income and expanding agribusiness. We also need to keep in mind the need to conserve natural resources and providing healthy livelihood. The society demands a lot from this University and I hope “MY TEAM – UASD”- the officers, academicians, teachers, faculty and students will gear up to take up the challenges which face the farming community in the coming decades.

 I call this University a truly “FARMERS’ UNIVERSITY”, as it is a University of the farmer’s, by the farmers and for the farmers. We redeem our pledge in fulfilling the dreams of our ANNADATA (Provider of Food) through dedicated and concerted efforts in all our endeavours. 

Dr. P.L. Patil