The Bihar government has sought Central or National University status for the Rajendra Agriculture University, Pusa in Samastipur district. Over a century old RAU is the only agriculture university left in Bihar after the creation of Jharkhand. The Birsa Agriculture University is situated in Ranchi.
In a letter to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the chief minister, Nitish Kumar, said that the report of S C Jha-led Special Task Force on Bihar suggested Centre or National University status for RAU. The Task Force, constittuied by the Prime Minister, estimated that Rs 3,150 crore is required for the modernization of RAU's infrastructure as well as research facilities.
The chief minister also reminded the Prime Minister of the recent National Development Council's
recommendation to devise state specific plan to make agriculture planning more focused on agro-climatic conditions and capabilities. This was necessary to achieve the desired results.
The chief minister said that Agriculture Roadmap of the state targets accelerated and integrated development of agriculture and allied sector, including horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, cooperative during the 11th Plan period. The state has declared 2008-09 as the year of agriculture. Since the success of the Roadmap depends largely on strong research and extension support it is essential that RAU be declared as a Central University.
The state, according to the letter, has taken iniatives like establishment of horticulature college at Nalanda and agriculture college at Saharsa. Another agriculture college is proposed in Shahabad region of the state.
It needs to be reminded that RAU is the oldest agriculture institute in the country and after the 1934 earthquake of North Bihar a section of it was shifted to Delhi. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is situated on Pusa Road in Delhi, named after Pusa in Bihar.
Source: Bihartimes.com 10-June-08
