AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN INDIA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

India is an agricultural country. At the time of independence our country faced food shortages. Later on due to green revolution we became self sufficient in food grain production despite population increase. One of the important factors in success of green revolution is the role played by agricultural graduates. After independence, state agricultural universities were established in all the states to impart education in the field of agriculture. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi regulates and ensures effective dissemination of agricultural education. At the same time, as agricultural universities are established by respective state governments, they are controlled by them. Although agricultural universities have done commendable job but in present liberalized and globalized era of World Trade Organization and General Agreement on Trade in Services, they face certain challenges viz financial constraints, lack of autonomy, inbreeding, lack of faculty competence in newer areas of agricultural sciences etc. Agricultural education being a professional education, it is necessary to take remedial measures so as to ensure food sufficiency for our growing population. In this context this paper describes the status of agricultural education in India highlighting challenges and suggesting strategies to overcome them.