College of Agriculture, Rajendrnagar

College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500 030

The College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar is one of the oldest and most prestigious agricultural institutions in India, with a legacy that dates back to 1946 when it was established under Osmania University. In 1964, it was integrated into the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University (APAU), later renamed Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) in 1996. With the formation of Telangana, the college became part of the Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) in 2014, and in 2024 it was renamed as Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PJTAU).

Over the decades, the college has emerged as a centre of excellence in agricultural education, research, and extension, contributing significantly to human resource development and innovations in farming systems for sustainable agriculture.

Academic Programmes

The college offers a four-year B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture programme, originally introduced in 1964 as B.Sc. (Ag.) and restructured in 2016 in line with ICAR Fifth Dean’s Committee recommendations. Currently, the undergraduate intake stands at 382 students per year.

Postgraduate education includes M.Sc. (Ag.) across 11 disciplines (including MBA in Agri-Business Management) with 157 students, and Ph.D. programmes in seven disciplines with 54 students. The VI Dean’s Committee syllabus has been implemented for UG students admitted from 2024 onwards.

The College has been ICAR accredited for 2021–2026, reflecting its high standards in education and research.

Objectives

To impart scientific knowledge, training, and skills to students, enabling them to become successful agri-entrepreneurs and contribute to the needs of farmers and industry.
To conduct basic and applied research for developing innovative solutions to state-level agricultural challenges.
To train students in disseminating sustainable agricultural technologies and extending research benefits to farming communities.

Faculty and Student Strength

The college is supported by a dedicated team of 57 faculty members, the majority being doctorates with proven expertise in teaching, research, and extension. They are assisted by 117 experienced non-teaching staff who ensure smooth academic and research operations. A Student Advisory Council actively monitors and supports the academic and personal growth of students through mentoring and counseling.

Infrastructure and Learning Resources

The campus provides a state-of-the-art learning environment with:

A well-designed college building with 16 classrooms, 34 laboratories, and 5 interconnected academic blocks.
12 smart classrooms, a virtual classroom, AR & VR lab, and ICT-enabled seminar halls for modern teaching methodologies.
A Knowledge Management Centre (Digital Library) with more than 2 lakh books, 26,497 back volumes, 1,380 e-books, 5,778 e-journals, and 12 online databases, fully digitized and integrated with Krishikosh.
Specialized facilities including Central Instrumentation Cell, Modern Agricultural Information Centre, Crop Cafeteria, and Museums in Agronomy, Pathology, and Entomology.
Wi-Fi-enabled hostels, classrooms, and research farms, ensuring seamless connectivity and exposure to modern learning tools.
Farm facilities spanning 113.6 ha at the College Farm and 53 ha at the Student Farm for experiential learning and research.

Research and Projects

Faculty members are actively engaged in externally funded projects supported by government and national institutions, with current projects worth over ₹53.5 lakh (2024–25). Revolving fund projects in Agricultural Microbiology, Bioenergy, Soil Science, and Farm Management further strengthen practical learning.

Research is closely integrated with teaching and student participation, ensuring exposure to national and international standards through collaborations with institutes such as ICAR-IIRR, CRIDA, IBT, and pesticide residue laboratories.

Student Development and Outreach

Placement Cell: Organizes career counselling, soft skills training, and industry collaborations. Recent recruiters include Godrej Agrovet, Syngenta, ITC, Mahyco, Coromandel Fertilizers, and Gharda Chemicals.
Higher Education Opportunities: A record number of students secure admissions through ICAR-AIEEA to reputed institutions across India every year.
Extension and Outreach: Students actively participate in RAWEP (Rural Agricultural Work Experience Programme) and Experiential Learning Units (vermicomposting, mushroom cultivation, biofertilizers, commercial vegetable production, etc.), directly interacting with farmers and rural communities.
Village Adoption Programme: Students and faculty adopt villages to conduct soil testing, pest diagnostics, technology demonstrations, and input distribution, bridging science and field application.
NSS and NCC Units: Foster community service, leadership, and discipline through national events, rallies, plantation drives, Swachh Bharat activities, and election duties.

Student Achievements and Recognitions

Students regularly excel in national-level competitions, securing gold medals, best thesis awards, poster presentations, and cultural accolades. The college teams have won overall championships in intercollegiate games and cultural meets, reflecting a balance of academics, sports, and personality development.

Why Choose Us ?

Legacy of over 75 years in agricultural education and research.
ICAR-accredited (2021–2026) institution with nationally recognized programmes.
Blend of traditional agricultural expertise with modern ICT, AI, remote sensing, and drone technologies.
Strong focus on student employability, entrepreneurship, and higher education.
Hands-on training, village adoption programmes, and experiential learning units bridging classroom learning with real-world agriculture.

At the College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, students are nurtured not only as future scientists and entrepreneurs but also as leaders committed to sustainable agriculture and rural development.

Dr. C. Narendra Reddy, Associate Dean

Dr. Chinthakindhi Narendra Reddy is presently serving as Associate Dean, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, under Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PJTAU). He has over 28 years and 4 months of distinguished professional experience spanning Research, Teaching, Extension, and Academic Administration, with substantial contributions to institutional development and agricultural advancement.

Dr. Reddy began his professional career as Scientist (Entomology) at RARS, Jagtial, and later served as Scientist (Crop Protection) at DAATTC, Nalgonda, where he actively contributed to technology dissemination and farmer advisory services. He subsequently worked as Senior Scientist under the All India Network Project (AINP) on Pesticide Residues at Rajendranagar, playing a significant role in pesticide residue monitoring, evaluation of novel pesticide molecules, and implementation of the centrally sponsored scheme on Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level (MPRNL). Through his leadership and scientific initiatives, he facilitated mobilization of external research funding exceeding Rs. 319 lakhs, in addition to generating substantial institutional revolving funds.

He has 8 years of research experience, over 7 years of teaching experience, 4 years of extension service, and more than 7 years of high-level administrative experience as Associate Dean at Agricultural College, Aswaraopet; Agricultural College, Jagtial; and College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar. He also currently serves as a Member of the Board of Management of PJTAU, contributing to policy formulation, academic governance, and strategic institutional planning at the university level.

As Associate Dean, he was instrumental in securing ICAR accreditation (2021–2026) for B.Sc. (Ag.), M.Sc. (Ag.), and Ph.D. programmes at Rajendranagar, leading the institution to achieve an ‘A’ Grade accreditation status. He also initiated and streamlined accreditation processes in other constituent colleges and played a key role in the effective implementation of the Broad Subject Matter Area (BSMA) curriculum, positioning PJTSAU as a pioneer among agricultural universities.

Dr. Reddy established several state-of-the-art academic facilities, including a Language Laboratory, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) Laboratory, smart classrooms, and strengthened the Central Instrumentation Centre to enhance the quality of postgraduate and doctoral research. Under his leadership, major infrastructure developments, including hostel expansions, laboratory modernization, examination facilities, and student welfare systems, were successfully executed.

Dr. Reddy’s professional excellence has been recognized through several prestigious awards, including the Meritorious Extension Scientist Award (2009), ANGRAU Convocation; Sri Mandava Venkataramaiah Best Researcher Award (2012), ANGRAU Convocation; State Award to Meritorious Teachers (2017), Government of Telangana, Higher Education Department; and the Best College Award (2018–19) for Agricultural College, Aswaraopet, PJTAU during its 5th Foundation Day celebrations.

He has published 123 research articles, 150 popular articles, and delivered 25 television and radio programmes, member of 8 national & international professional societies demonstrating his strong commitment to scientific communication and farmer outreach. Dr. C. Narendra Reddy is widely acknowledged for his visionary leadership, research excellence, academic reforms, institutional strengthening, and dedicated service to agricultural entomology education and sustainable development.