Strategic Role of Indian State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) in Rural Development: A Review Lalitha A.*, Purnima K.S., Reddy K. Gurava, Babu Suresh1, Sambaiah A. Agricultural Information and Communication Centre, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Lam, Guntur-522 034, Andhra Pradesh, India 1Capacity Strengthening, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, USA *Corresponding Author: A. Lalitha, Agricultural Information and Communication Centre, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Lam, Guntur-522 034, Andhra Pradesh, India. Email: lalithareddy6@gmail.com
Online published on 15 April, 2022. Abstract State Agricultural Universities, (SAUs), in India, have adopted the U.S. land-grant model to meet its goals. They are autonomous organisations with state-wide responsibility for agricultural education, research and extension education. Through teaching, research and extension activities the 64 SAUs across 28 states of India are significantly contributing to agricultural production and productivity of their respective states directly and therefore to the rural development. SAUs rural development strategies include technologies and innovations, extension and human resource development. Regional Agricultural Research Stations in various agro-climatic zones have strengthened research-extension-farmer (REF) linkages. KVKs under administrative control of SAUs serve as farm science centres of their respective districts. In this paper, the rural development approaches of Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh is detailed. Furthermore, strategic planning by the SAUs to increase their effectiveness for direct rural development should be sustained. Top Keywords Agricultural extension, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Rural development, Strategies, SAUs. Top |