Page 6 - ICAR-Accreditation-VIT-VAIAL SSR

by well-trained faculty members specialized in all the subjects in Agriculture. Currently the

programme is represented by students from Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, Punjab, West Bengal and Maharashtra indicating the growing

popularity of the B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture programme in VIT. The curriculum for Bachelor of
Science (Hons.) in Agriculture programme offered is developed in accordance to the ICAR

format, which in turn is aimed at realizing the Mission of the Institution. Core subjects for 136
credits and elective subjects for 45 credits are offered to the students for duration of 4 academic

years.

Students are exposed to experiential learning in 104.6 acres of Agri Farm for crop cultivation

area, weather station, botanical garden, mushroom production unit, vermicomposting, apiary,
fruit orchard, Agro-forestry area, livestock and poultry units etc. In addition, multiple field visits,

institute and industry visits, commercial farm visits, involvement of foreign professors in

teaching are part of academic uniqueness of the School. A novel Farmers Attachment
Programme is introduced for the students from third year onwards. In this programme, each

student is attached to a farmer to get exposed to farming activities and provide solutions to field
level problems by connecting with the faculty experts. Students perform mini projects as part of

innovative assignments in each course in addition to research projects in summer which results in
publication or product development. From 2015 onwards, two days agricultural mela (Agri

Expo) is organized at VIT in collaboration with the State Agriculture Department, Tamil Nadu

Agricultural University (TNAU) and ICAR Institutes. Programme includes exhibition,
demonstration, conference on various agro-technology and about four thousand farmers

participate each year. VIT Agri students also exhibit their projects and interact with agro-

industries, farmers and scientists.

The labs are well equipped with high-end equipment worth Rs. 11 Crores. Land requirement of
20 hectares (available 43 hectares) is also fulfilled as mentioned in the minimum requirement of

Fifth Deans Committee Report.

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