The Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) has topped among the agricultural universities in the whole of eastern and north-eastern India in terms of excellence.
As per a notification issued by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for the year 2016-17, the OUAT ranked 11th among 73 agricultural universities of the country. Among the State agricultural universities, it ranks 8th.
The ranking has been made by the ICAR in the recommendation of a committee formed to rank the agricultural universities in the country on the basis of their educational excellence, research and extension achievements and other approaches adopted to serve to the need of the farming community.
The students of OUAT have also brought pride for the State by registering record success in Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), SeniorResearch Fellowship (SRF), National Eligibility Test (NET) and Agricultural Research Service (ARS) examinations. Out of 60 Agronomy Junior Research Fellowships in India, 15 students are from the OUAT during this year. This includes 1st, 2nd and 7th position at national level. During this year 144 students of the OUAT have succeeded in qualifying in JRF for higher studies out of which 43 will receive fellowship.
In his twitter and facebook page, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated the students, faculties and administrators of OUAT for the national level recognitions.
He has said “I am happy that OUAT is playing a transformational role in agriculture development and farmers’ empowerment in the State well as in the country”.
OUAT Vice-Chancellor Prof Surendranath Pasupalak too congratulated the students and faculty members on the occasion.