Agriculture in the 21st century is facing multiple challenges: It has to produce more food and fiber to feed
the growing population with limited resources and erratic climate. Diversification reflects a change in
business activities based on the flexible and differentiated response to changing opportunities created by
new production technology or market signals. Change over from mono crop or a few crops to more crops
in a year or more years can also be defined as crop diversification. Agricultural diversification is used as a
strategy to reduce risks associated with traditional agriculture and improve returns to investment in it.
Better technology, quality seeds, fertilizers, implements, market information and higher level of farm
management through intensive crop specific farmer training are some of the critical inputs used for crop
diversification. Due to diverse agro climatic conditions in the country, instead of cultivating a few crops
varieties of agricultural items are produced. Broadly, these can be classified into two groups - food grains
crops and commercial crops. Due to the challenge of feeding the vast population and the experience of
food shortages in the pre-independence era, „self-reliance' in food grains has been the cornerstone of
India’s agricultural policies in the last 50 years or more. Around 66 percent of the total cultivated area is
under food grain crops of cereals and pulses. The participation of researchers and scientists including
young minds from academia as well as industries will help shed a light on the recent developments in this
area and will generate new ideas for the future researches.
In order to improve the socio-economic status of the masses, there is a dire need to create a harmonious
balance among 'ruralization' and 'urbanization'. The real India essentially resides in rural areas, with
livelihood largely based on agriculture and its allied activities. Therefore, the need of the hour is to
strengthen our rural economy. This calls for scientific approach and mechanism through which youth can
be imparted with latest knowledge and trained on modern technologies that aid efficient usage of
resources. Sub optimal usage of available resources is very much prevalent due to lack of awareness on
appropriate technology and resource use. The same is evident from drastic drop and inconsistent
agricultural output, thereby creating economic hardship and posing a strong barrier to the balanced
development of rural masses.
Choosing career as agricultural professional is a non-regrettable decision in one's life. Pursuing
agricultural related degree opens up several future career opportunities. As the world seek for economic
transformation, the need for well-trained agricultural professionals is more urgent than ever before. There
is no doubt that agriculture will continue to be the backbone of every country's economic development.
SGVU School of Agriculture offers multifarious programs in Agriculture at Undergraduate,
Postgraduate and Doctorate levels. These programs envelop various dimensions of agricultural science
like Agronomy, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Pathology, Soil Science, Horticulture, Forestry,
Agriculture Engineering, Entomology, Microbiology, Agri-business, etc.
I am pleased to welcome all the students who have chosen to be a part of School of Agriculture. I would
also like to invite prospective students to join School of Agriculture to be transformed as agriculture
professionals.
