Chandigarh, May 12:
In a significant step towards bringing uniformity and boosting agricultural education, Punjab Government has given a go ahead to adopt ICAR Model Act, 2023 (Revised) for B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture in the State.
This decision was taken in a meeting of Punjab State Council for Agricultural Education (PSCAE), chaired by Dr. Basant Garg, Chairperson PSCAE-cum-Administrative Secretary Agriculture and Farmers Welfare department, Punjab.
Dr. Garg informed that a detailed discussion on implementing the ICAR Model Act 2023 (Revised) for B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture in Punjab led to a unanimous decision to adopt the Act.
He said that the revised minimum standards for B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture (per 120 students/ a unit) include 35 faculty members, 43 supporting staff, and specific land requirements: 37.5 acres of total land area, with 19 acres (within a 7-KMs radius) dedicated to farm area, which can be owned or leased for 33 years, or a combination of 10 acres owned and 9 acres leased land for 10 years. Additionally, the program requires 13 laboratories equipped according to ICAR specifications.
With this decision, the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has fulfilled a long-standing demand of the Joint Association of Colleges, Punjab, he added.
Previously, the B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture program’s minimum standards for 60 students included 35 faculty members, 28 supporting staff, 40 acres of agricultural land, and 12 ICAR-prescribed laboratories.
According to Dr. Basant Garg, PSCAE was set up by the Punjab Government to oversee agricultural education in the government and private institutions. Till date, 16 colleges and universities have obtained PSCAE accreditation for their B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture program by fulfilling the required standards.
Prominent attendees at the meeting included Vice Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, Agriculture Commissioner, Punjab Ms. Babita, Dean Colleges of Agriculture (PAU) Dr. CS Aulakh and ADO (PSCAE) Jaideep Singh.
