About College of Agriculture Kolhapur

Agriculture education in Maharashtra was initiated by establishment of two Agricultural Colleges at Pune and Nagpur. After the independence, it was observed that these were insufficient to educate the large group of students. Hence, it was felt necessary to establish new colleges in different regions.

The College of Agriculture, Kolhapur was established at Kasaba Bawada, about four kilometer away from Central Bus Stand, Kolhapur on 30th June,1963 to educate and disseminate need based agricultural technologies to the farming community of this region under the Shivaji University, Kolhapur and 63 students were admitted for the first batch. In 1968, after formation of Maharashtra Agricultural University; the College was transferred to this University. Subsequently on formation of Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri in 1969, the College was transferred as a constituent College of Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri and has become a regional headquarter for Kolhapur, Satara and Sangli districts. The College is located at old Pune-Bangalore National Highway No. 4, with different well equipped sectional buildings.

Rajarshee Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj was great emperor, a true democrat, social reformer and dynamic king of then Kolhaur princely state, to honour his visionsry contribution in social, co-oprative network, education and agriculture development and betterment of farmers, this college was renamed as Rajarshee Chhatrapti Shahu Maharaj College of Agriculture, Kolhapur in March, 2017.

The college encompasses total area of about 131.38 hectares, out of which 85.55 ha.is available at main campus and remaining at Shenda Park, Kolhapur which is 4.0 km away from main campus. The average rainfall of this area is 1100 mm (70 rainy days), with maximum temperature of 36.9 0C and minimum temperature of 9.4 0C in the months of May and December, respectively. This region comes under Sub Montane Zone of Maharashtra at 160 41’N latitude and 74016’E longitudes with a height of 548 m MSL.

At the outset annual system of imparting education was trimester system (1970-74) which was subsequently modified and introduced by semester system in year 1975-76. The 10+2+3 pattern was followed from 1979 to 1984 and now 10+2+4 pattern is introduced since 1984 which comprises one Semester (VII) of Rural Agriculture Work Experience (RAWE) programme and Experiential Learning Programme for VIII semester from the academic year 2007-08.

The human resources are being utilized for agricultural education, research and extension needs of the State and Country. The degree programme is of four years duration spread over 8 semesters. The evaluation system comprises of internal (20%) and external (80%). The credit requirement for the B.Sc. (Agri) degree is 160 credits, out of which 20 credits are reserved for Rural Awareness & Agricultural Work Experience and Agricultural Industrial Awareness (RAWE & AIA) programme and 20 credits for Experiential Learning Module. As per the Vth Deans’ Committee recommendations the seven Experiential Learning Modules for VIII semester students are being implemented to make them practically capable in the fields of Seed Processing, Production of organic inputs (Vermi-compost), Vegetable Production, Farm Mechanization, Sericulture, Soil, Water, Plant and Fertilizer Analysis & Food Processing Technology, Bio-Fertilizer Production and Dairy Products.
Since the academic year, 2017-18, the college is implementing the Vth Dean committee syllabus as per the guidelines of MCAER, Pune with a degree programme of B. Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture.

The college playground and gymnasium has been upgraded with new instruments, rubber matting of badminton court and development and expansion of the running track.

The existing hostel facility has been increased by starting PG hostel for Boys and Girls separately during 2013.The new hostel for UG girl students with accommodation capacity of 105 has constructed through CSR fund and another hostel for 100 girl students is under construction through State Government fund.

Seed processing unit has been established on 14th January,2011 at college campus for processing of different grain seeds produced on university and private farms in Kolhapur region i.e. Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur districts.

One LED Screen board at College entrance at main gate towards old highway is installed to make farmers aquainted with daily weather data and previous annual rainfall, also one multicoloured LED Screen is installed to display various educational, research and extension activities of MPKV, Rahuri as well as the agriculture related advertisements to increase revenue receipts of the college.

In the cane belt of Kolhapur region for more than last one decade white grub has emerged as major pest, considering this All India Network Project on Soil Orthropods has been started in the college for the benefit of farmers in the Kolhapur region. Similarly, Laboratory for Mass Production of Biopesticide has been established by Entomology section which was funded by DPDC Kolhapur.

Farmers Training Center for livestock rearing, milk and milk products for the benefit of farmers as well as laboratory for UG and PG Students is established by AHDS section which was funded by DPDC Kolhapur.

The college offers under graduate and post graduate degree programmes in the Faculty of Agriculture as below

The RCSM College of Agriculture, Kolhapur is a unique campus under the Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Dist. Ahmednagar with complete integration of Teaching, Research and Extension. The major mandates of the college are :

Providing quality agricultural education by conducting research, generating production technology and disseminating the technology to farmers and thus working for improvement, growth and well being of the community is the soul and spirit of the college

The university has set the following goals to achieve its mission :

Education