B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture Program at NMIMS SAST Shirpur!
Shirpur, 02 March 2023: School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SAST), Shirpur, the first school of Agriculture under SVKM’s NMIMS, has started admissions for a four-year professional undergraduate degree B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture program to provide holistic education in agriculture and allied sectors.
Agriculture contributes to 17% of the GDP and employs about 54% of the population in rural areas. Providing specialized training and skill sets will benefit the students to serve this sector. Through a focused approach, the School aims to prepare agricultural graduates to undertake responsible jobs, entrepreneurship, and agricultural scientists and thereby promote sustainable farm profitability and livelihood security to the rural population depending directly or indirectly on agriculture. In the Rural Agriculture Work Experience program, the students gain first-hand insight into the issues impacting farm sustainability and provide viable solutions.
The program is designed as per ICAR’s recommended syllabus so that the student’s learning is in line with the national curriculum. The School will be going for ICAR accreditation shortly and hence provide equal opportunity to the students on a par with other colleges. The syllabus balances theory and practice and all practice sessions are held in fully equipped laboratories or on the farm. The students will also be exposed to various research institutes and are oriented toward an agri-business perspective. The students will understand the rural setting of agriculture and allied sectors; the socio-economic conditions of the farmers and issues, especially with regard to various pests, diseases, and physiological problems faced by the crops and animals. By organizing interactive outreach activities under the guidance of the faculty, the students are endowed with enhanced communication skills and make use of various knowledge management tools. The 2-month long industry internship provides an opportunity to closely observe the day-to-day functioning of the industry and acquire entrepreneurial skills.
Eligibility Criteria:
Students seeking admission for the B.Sc. (Hons.) program must have:
● Passed Higher Secondary Examination (HSC) or 10+2 from either state boards, ISE, or CBSE.
● Minimum 50% aggregate with physics, chemistry, and biology or equivalent program
Dr.Akshay Malhotra, the Director of the Shirpur Campus said, “Our endeavor at SAST is to be a globally recognized agricultural institution of repute that produces socially responsible self-motivated graduates. The integrated NMIMS Shirpur campus provides an ideal environment to provide holistic education to our students that motivate them to become lifelong learners. At NMIMS Shirpur, we are very conscious of our larger responsibility to serve the farming community and we ensure that the same value system is also imbibed in all our students. This is in line with the vision of our Hon’ble Chancellor, Shri Amrishbhai Patel. We ensure our students are given sufficient on-hand field as well as laboratory experience so that they have a chance to excel in the career path of their choice, whether it is service in the industry, higher education, or even, entrepreneurship.”
Dr.Suseelendra Desai, Dean, of the School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology said, “The School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, located in the prime agricultural belt of North Maharashtra, is a wonderful place to learn. With 117 acres of farmland and well-equipped laboratories, we aim to be a global institution for agricultural education, research, and outreach activities. The nation needs a well-trained agricultural graduate empowered with the right skill sets to contribute to sustainable farm livelihoods, rural economy, and fabric. Under the visionary leadership of Shri Amrish Bhai Patel, a passionate agriculture enthusiast, a full-fledged School complex will be ready by the next academic year to provide state-of-the-art amenities for the promotion of agricultural education. In the future, Dairy Technology and Veterinary schools envisaged will give holistic learning about integrated farming systems. We have partnered with many industries for a minimum 2-month long internship and are in discussion with the reputed international universities to provide value-added education to the students.”
