Farmers Can Now Access Agriculture University Courses without Age, Qualification Bar

Bangalore: India’s first and only private open agriculture university that commenced in January this year in Nagpur, is now offering courses to farmers without any age or qualification restriction.

Chancellor of Arvind Agricultural (Open and Virtual) University, Dr Mukund Gaikwad was quoted saying "Our syllabus and curriculm are entirely different than other universities and are innovative. We are conducting classes on out-demonstration farms near Katol and the response is good," as reported by PTI.

The university will make use of high-technology involving specialists of various agro-produce in the world for sharing their know-how and teaching farmers directly in virtual classrooms.

The chancellor also informed that the university will tie up with leading agriculture universities for knowledge transfer and field visits. He said that marketing is one of the critical blockages in agriculture and is being addressed by the university.

Gaikwad was further quoted by PTI, saying "This summer we have started with exporting 700 tonnes of mango from Western Maharashtra. Now, plans are afoot to help Vidarbha farmers by exporting vegetables from this region. As a pilot project we have been growing vegetables at our demonstration field at Wadvihira in Katol (Nagpur rural). We plan to export 500 tonnes of vegetables."

He also said that "Farmers of Vidarbha need to take up innovative measures like diversifying to vegetables and pulses besides cash crops like cotton and soyabean to increase their income. Only if they do this, the economic distress that has led to the suicide crisis can be resolved."

The university offers 50 courses including a daylong workshop.

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