The Siksha O Anusandhan (SOA) University on Saturday opened an Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS) in the university campus, the first such college in the private sector in the eastern India.
This is the ninth institute under the SOA University propagating professional courses with an intake capacity of 120 students.
University Vice-Chancellor Prof RP Mohanty and advisor to the president of university Prof DP Ray were present at the function, which was attended by OUAT Vice-Chancellor Prof Manoranjan as the chief guest.
Kar said while 24,000 graduates in agriculture and other allied sciences are churned out by various colleges in the country now there would be a need for 40,000 graduates by 2020. There are 65 agricultural universities in the country at present, but the demand for agricultural science is on the rise, he added.