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Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat

Assam Agricultural University is the first institution of its kind in the whole of North-Eastern Region of India. The main goal of this institution is to produce globally competitive human resources in farm sectorand to carry out research in both conventional and frontier areas for production optimization as well as to disseminate the generated technologies as public good for benefitting the food growers/produces and traders involved in the sector while emphasizing on sustainability, equity and overall food security at household level. Genesis of AAU - The embryo of the agricultural research in the state of Assam was formed as early as 1897 with the establishment of the Upper Shillong Experimental Farm (now in Meghalaya) just after about a decade of creation of the agricultural department in 1882. However, the seeds of agricultural research in today’s Assam were sown in the dawn of the twentieth century with the establishment of two Rice Experimental Stations, one at Karimganj in Barak valley in 1913 and the other at Titabor in Brahmaputra valley in 1923. Subsequent to these research stations, a number of research stations were established to conduct research on important crops, more specifically, jute, pulses, oilseeds etc. The Assam Agricultural University was established on April 1, 1969 under The Assam Agricultural University Act, 1968’ with the mandate of imparting farm education, conduct research in agriculture and allied sciences and to effectively disseminate technologies so generated. Before establishment of the University, there were altogether 17 research schemes/projects in the state under the Department of Agriculture. By July 1973, all the research projects and 10 experimental farms were transferred by the Government of Assam to the AAU which already inherited the College of Agriculture and its farm at Barbheta, Jorhat and College of Veterinary Sciences at Khanapara, Guwahati. Subsequently, College of Community Science at Jorhat (1969), College of Fisheries at Raha (1988), Biswanath College of Agriculture at Biswanath Chariali (1988) and Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science at Joyhing, North Lakhimpur (1988) were established. Presently, the University has three more colleges under its jurisdiction, viz., Sarat Chandra Singha College of Agriculture, Chapar, College of Horticulture, Nalbari & College of Sericulture, Titabar. Similarly, few more regional research stations at Shillongani, Diphu, Gossaigaon, Lakhimpur; and commodity research stations at Kahikuchi, Buralikson, Tinsukia, Kharua, Burnihat and Mandira were added to generate location and crop specific agricultural production packages.

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Subject: Home Science × Author: Bharali, Rulima × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2016 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Economic Empowerment of Rural Women of Assam through Agro-based Enterprises
    (AAU, 2016) Bharali, Rulima; Dr Manju Dutta Das
    The present investigation on economic empowerment of rural women of Assam through agro-based enterprises was carried out in three agro climatic zones. A multi stage purposive cum simple random sampling design was followed for sample selection. Two districts from each zone, namely Jorhat and Dibrugarh of Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone, Udalguri and Darrang from North Bank Plain Zone and Kamrup (M) and Kamrup (R) of Lower Brahmaputra Valley Zone were selected randomly. All total 240 rural women from 24 villages of selected zones and who were mostly engaged in both vegetable cultivation and livestock rearing were included as respondents for the present study. Data collection was done by using structured interview schedule. The study revealed that majority of the rural women (52.92%) were of middle aged group, married (70.83%) and belonged to middle socio economic status (54.17%) group. Most of the rural women were involved independently in post harvest activities like cleaning and grading of harvested crop (88.33%), collection of seed from harvested crop (83.33%), transplanting, planting and sowing of seeds (74.76%) and application of manure (64.16%). Further they participated independently in different livestock activities such as providing daily feed (82.08%), cleaning of shed (79.16%), care of sick animal (74.58%) and taking care in vaccination of livestock (70.83%). Majority of the rural women had low level of knowledge in vegetable cultivation (44.32%) whereas 40.45% and 15.23% had medium and high level of knowledge respectively. In rearing of livestock majority of the rural women (42.77%) had medium level of knowledge followed by 39.49% and 17.74% had low and high level of knowledge. The major inhibiting factors which hampered in carrying out the agrobased enterprises were lack of technical person for immediate help and solution(2.56), weak marketing linkage(2.55) and sudden outbreak of diseases(2.53). Study also revealed that the agricultural projects planned and working on PPP mode for benefit of rural women increased their economic standard gradually. The five strategic options were drawn by introducing SWOC matrix analysis, namely i) provide specific training on the demand of the entrepreneurs on selected enterprises. ii) continuous assistance from extension personnel about production process and production management iii) develop linkages with input suppliers and markets iv) access to current and reliable market information and v) ensuring easy availability of low cost high yielding breed/variety.