Soon
after independence it
was realized by the Government
of India that key to more and
efficient agricultural production is a
coordinated system of agricultural
education, research and extension, suiting
to unique needs and
requirement of the farmers
of Orissa.
University Education
Commission, popularly known as Radhakrishnan
Commission, was appointed to review
the higher agricultural
education in India. The Commission recommended the
establishment of autonomous rural universities,
recognizing Agricultural Education
as a major national priority.
The first
Joint Indo-American Team
in 1955 recommended that the
development of Agricultural Universities should be assisted
by substantial grand -in- aid
from the Centre to ensure autonomy and operation. The recommendations
included establishment of agricultural universities at six places including
Bhubaneswar in Orissa. The second Joint Indo-American Team recommended
complete integration of teaching, research and extension at the college
level. An Agricultural University Committee headed by Dr Ralph W. Cummings in
1962 recommended the establishment of State Agricultural Universities in
each state with responsibility for work in agriculture including animal
science, home science and other allied sciences on the pattern of U. S. Land
Grant College system and provided guidelines for developing SAUs.
As a
result, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) came in to
existence as the second Agricultural
University, on 24th August, 1962 through an act passed by
the Orissa Legislative Assembly. Under
the USAID programme, OUAT developed linkages with the University of Missouri
and Mississipi, a Land Grant University of the US, to strengthen its
teaching, research and extension
programmes. At present, the University has 8 constituent colleges. The
University has separate wings for Research, Extension Education and
Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation.
Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology is
at the heart of Bhubaneswar (Latitude : 20º 15'N, Longitude : 85º 52' E),
the capital city of Orissa , which is situated at an altitude of 25.9 meters
above the sea level. It has a bracing climate with the normal maximum and
minimum temperatures of 32.4ºC & 25ºC respectively. The annual
rainfall is 1450 mm, out of which about 80% is received during the monsoon
season from June to October.
The Emblem
of the University is designed with the Konark temple, a bullock, plough
and corns, a tractor and a pump. The temple represents the State of
Orissa, the architects of which dedicated to posterity the fantasy of
conceiving and creating with thousands of pieces of cold stone such a
righteous harmony by their mutual cooperation and will. The bullock
represents the Animal husbandry and Veterinary Science and the plough and
corn – the Agricultural Science. The tractor stands for the
Agro-Engineering and Technological appliances and the pump for irrigation.
The
Governor of Orissa is the Ex-Offcio Chancellor of the University.
The Vice-chancellor is the Chief Executive and Chairman of the Board of
Management and Academic Council, Registrar, Deans of the Faculties, Dean
of Research, Dean of Extension Education, Director of Physical Plant and
the Controller are the statutory Officers of the University.
