About

Agricultural Economics Section

  1. Genesis of Agricultural Economics Section

The Agricultural Economics Section was established as a separate discipline in the College of Agriculture in 1925 as a result of the initiative of the personalities like Rao Bahadur, P. C. Patil (1925-32), T. G. Shirname (1932-36), Dr. M. B. Ghatage (1936-43), Prof. P. N. Driver (1944-60), Dr. M. N. Jogalekar (1960), Dr. T. Y. Patil (1960-67), Dr. M. K. Shingarey (1967-69),

The Agricultural Economics Section took stride in its activities and become popular in the country due to able leadership of Rao Bahadur Dr. P. C. Patil followed by all the above eminent economists, chronologically. After the establishment of Mahatma PhuleKrishiVidyapeeth at Rahuri in 1969, the section of Agricultural Economics, Pune itself culminated into a full-fledged Department of Agricultural Economics at the central Campus, MPKV, Rahuri.

The persons occupying the chair of Professors of Agricultural Economics were Dr. T. K. T. Acharya (1969-73), Dr. B. J. Hinge (1973), Prof. S. B. Jagtap (1973-75), Prof. D. G. Parkale (1975-78, 1982-86,1991-94), Prof. B. M. Tayade (1978-80), Prof. P. D. Diskalkar (1980-82), Dr. M. P. Dhongade (1986-91), Prof. Y. T. Kharse (1994-95), Dr. D. V. Kasar (1995-99) and Dr. D. L. Sale (2000-05). Dr. R.K Rahane, Prof N. S. Killedar, Dr. R. N. Adasule, Dr. M. J. Wattamawar, Prof. B. B. Gawade (2006-2008), Dr. R. K Rahane (2008-2011), Prof.P.N.Shendage(2011-2015), Dr.B.K.Mali (2015-017), Dr.D.P.Kaledonkar (2017to2019), Dr.C.A.Nimbalkar (2019 to 2021) and presently Dr.B.N.Pawar is the Head ofSection. The valuable contributions have been made by these personalities in the field of Agricultural Economics materialized in establishment of the section at the College. The present edifice of the Department of Agricultural Economics is the result of constant inspiration, sincere and continuous efforts made by all the eminent Agricultural Economists since its origin. This Department has been entrusted with the major responsibilities of teaching, research and extension in the subject of Agricultural Economics and agribusiness Management. The Department is pioneer in farm cost studied, Agricultural Marketing and Socio-Economic Survey.

Since the inception of the Agricultural College, the agricultural economics courses were offered to the students.

  • The post-graduate programme i.e. M. Sc. (Agri) in Agricultural Economics was started in 1984 with an intake capacity of 6 students.
  • In 2005-06, The M. Sc. (Agri) in Agril. Economics programme was shifted to Central Campus Rahuri and the M. Sc. (Agri) in Agribusiness Management programme running at Central Campus MPKV, Rahuri was shifted to College of Agriculture Pune with the view to cater the agribusiness opportunities by harvesting the benefits of Pune city as a cosmopolitan.
  • Master of Business Management (MBM) in Agriculture with intake capacity of 30 students is started in 2008.09, with closing the earlier postgraduate programme in M.Sc. (Agri) in Agribusiness management.
  • In 2009-10, the MBA (Agri) post graduate programme is renamed as Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Agriculture.
  • In 2010-11, a separate department of MBA (Agri) programme is established to run the post –graduate programme in MBA (Agri)
  • In 2020-21, the prost graduate Programme in M. Sc. (Agri) is shifted from Central Campus MPKV Rahuri to College of Agriculture, Pune with intake capacity of 6 students.

2. Mandate of the Department: The Department is committed to produce trained manpower in Agricultural Economics capable of assuming positions of responsibility in various academic and managerial cadres in agricultural sector. Specifically, the mandate of the Department is to offer courses on Agricultural Economics for undergraduate degree programmes in the faculties of Agriculture and Horticulture and also for Post-Graduate Programme leading to M.Sc. (Agri.) in Agricultural Economics.

  1. Teaching:Teaching of Agricultural Economics is imparted for various programmes.
  2. Undergraduate Programme:The basic courses of Agricultural Economics offered at undergraduate level are related to the areas of Fundamental of Economics, Agricultural Finance and Co-operation, Agricultural Marketing, Trade and Prices, Agri-business Management and Farm Management, Production and resources Economics. The Practical exercises concerning to techno-economic surveys, cost studies and farm planning are covered through a RAWE Programme in Agricultural Economics.

b) Post Graduate Programme: The Post-Graduate Programme, M.Sc.(Agri.) in Agril. Economics is re-starting from the academic year 2020-21.Annual intake capacity of Post Graduate Students (06) at Department of Agriculture Economics, College of Agriculture, Pune .

3) Research: The Head of Section at the Agricultural College, Pune has an important role to perform as a Professor of Agricultural Economics in the jurisdiction. The staff of the section is actively involved in teaching, research and extension activities. With the existing teaching work-load Agricultural Economics section has carried out the research in the area of Agricultural Marketing, Agricultural Finance, Production Economics, Entrepreureship Development, Development Economics, etc. The quantum of research project carried during last 10 years in different arena are depicted as below:

Research recommendations approved in the Joint Agresco Committee in 2020-2021

The major importing countries of banana from India are UAE, Saudi Arabia,Bahrain and Nepal from the last ten years (2010 -2011 to 2019-20200 contributing 73 per cent of total banana export from India but the prices fetched to Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Iran were higher byRs.21/kg than Bahrain and Nepal. It is, therefore, recommended to increase the export of banana to countries viz:, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Iran by diverting the export of banana from Bahrain and Nepal in order to get higher returns from the export of banana from India.

4) Extension activities

  • The staff of Agril. Economics section take active part in the extension activities of the College and University such as Farmer’s rallies, radio talks and popular articles.
  • The Professor of Agril. Economics is a member of Scale of Finance Committee of the Pune, District Central Co-operative Bank, Pune.
  • The staff of the section answers queries of the farmers and provide the information to the Department of Agriculture, NGO and Progressive farmers etc.

5) Other activities of Agriculture Economics Section

a) Agriculture College Co-operative Store Ltd, Pune:Agriculture Economics Section, College of Agriculture, Pune has started the Agriculture College Co-operative Store in 1925 and since then it is successfully running. The facilities provided to students likes basic stationery (education related items) like, Notebooks, printed Journal papers, printed college files, Pen, Pencil, Sharpeners, Compass as well as grocery items like Bucket, Jar, Toothpaste, tooth brush, Soap, broom, handkerchief, fevicol etc., at reasonable rates i.e. keeping bare minimum profit. The facility of copier/ Xerox with is also made available to students.

b) Agriculture College Sale counter :Agriculture Economics Section, College of Agriculture, Pune has started the Regional Sale Counter Cell, at the main gate of Agriculture College, Pune since 2020. The various products, developed by University, like, Vermicompost, verticilium, Horticultural products like Anola candy, Jamun juice, vegetables seeds, Bakery and dairy products, Krishidarshani, hand-tools are sold at reasonable rates.

The produce like, leafy vegetables, flowers, fruits, Mushrooms, Milk and Milk Products, Dahi, Lasshi, Panner, Khoa, Ghee, Eggs etc., produced by College of Agriculture, Pune are sold in the sale counter at reasonable rates.

C) Facilities provided to students and staff:

  1. A Centaury old, Agriculture Economics Section is enriched with valuable print materials, books, and magazine. These knowledge cell (Sectional Library) is made available to students and staff for augmentation of their knowledge.
  2. Wifi Corridor is developed at Agricultural Economics, Section for students and staff for screening the various knowledge portals through internet surfing.
  3. ‘Rao Bahadur P. C. Patil Hall’ is developed as a Smart Class room with well-equipped integrated digital podium and interactive digital Projection System with capacity of 60 participants. The Placement seminars and trainings are organized in this hall for carrer development of the students.

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