Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra, India

Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola – Vanguard of Agrarian Education, Research & Farmer Innovation in Maharashtra

Introduction

Founded in 1969, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV) in Akola, Maharashtra, serves as a pivotal agricultural university in the Vidarbha region. Named after Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh—the visionary agriculture minister—it focuses on agronomy, crop breeding, extension education, and seed production across its jurisdiction of 13 districts. As Maharashtra’s premier hub of farming research and education, PDKV excels in technology development, student placements, and sustained farmer outreach. (Collegedunia, Wikipedia)

1. Establishment & Evolution

• Established in 1969, PDKV emerged from the College of Agriculture, Akola (founded in 1955) to serve as the state’s second agricultural university. (Collegedunia, PDKV)
• The university encompasses 13 districts of Maharashtra and continues to operate multiple constituent colleges, research stations, and extension centres. (Pdkvu)

2. Affiliations & Accreditation

• Recognized by UGC, affiliated with ICAR, and a member of the Indian Agricultural Universities Association (IAUA).
• Accredited by NAAC (specific grade not publicly cited).
• Offers academic programmes across agriculture, engineering, biotechnology, and seed sciences. (University Dunia)

3. Academic Programs & Courses Offered

🎓 Constituent Colleges & Fields

• PDKV encompasses the College of Agriculture (Akola), the Vasantrao Naik Agricultural Biotechnology College (Yavatmal), and postgraduate departments in technology and allied sciences. (Collegedunia)

🧑‍🎓 Courses

• Undergraduate: B.Sc. (Agriculture), B.Tech. (Agricultural Engineering), B.Sc. Biotechnology
• Postgraduate: M.Sc. Agronomy, Plant Breeding, Dairy, Horticulture, Dairy Technology, M.Tech.
• Doctoral: Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology
• Diploma/PG Diploma: Courses in seed technology, extension management and allied fields. (CollegeDekho, Collegedunia)

Admission Process

• UG based on merit/provisional counselling; PG through state or university entrance tests or ICAR-AIEEA. (Collegedunia)

4. Facilities & Infrastructure

• Urban campus at Akola with research farms, administrative and academic blocks, and laboratories.
• Facilities support include:
  • Seed production units and breeder seed farms
  • Contingency Crop Planning advisory centre under AICRP-AM
  • Crop disease and pest diagnosis labs
• Field outreach: advisory projects on soy, cotton, pulses and contingency planning for aberrant weather. (Wikipedia, EduRank, PDKV)

5. Academic Excellence & Research Activities

📈 Research Output & Rankings

• According to EduRank 2025:
  • Published 1,525 scientific papers with 7,680 citations
  • Ranked #390 in India, #6,451 globally
• Subject wise strengths:
  • Biology: 1,419/7,417; Environmental Science: 1,341/7,032; Agricultural Science: 1,079/5,131
  • Engineering research output: 832 papers / 4,986 citations
  • Liberal Arts & Social Sciences: 776/3,828 (EduRank, EduRank)

🧪 Innovations & Outreach

• In May 2025, PDKV researchers secured approval for:
  • 11 improved crop varieties (jowar, moong, wheat, maize, custard apple, flax, chickpea)
  • 9 agricultural tools & machinery (soybean harvesters, solar pest traps, vermicompost spreaders)
  • 69 crop production technologies
• These innovations aim to boost productivity, cut labour, and support sustainable farming in Maharashtra. (Shiksha, The Times of India)

6. Career Development & Placement Opportunities

🔍 Placement Data

• From the 2018–19 UG cohort:
  • 491 graduates, 10 placed with a median salary of ₹5.6 LPA, and 81 opted for higher studies
• From the 2019–20 PG cohort:
  • 364 graduates, 3 placed with median salary ₹6 LPA, and 33 pursued higher education (Shiksha)

🧑‍💼 Placement Process

• Central Placement Cell shares graduate profiles with prospective employers.
• Coordination of campus recruitment, workshops, and interviews to support students in placement or research paths. (Pdkvu)

7. Notable Alumni & Institutional Leadership

• Collective alumni include agricultural scientists, seed technologists, extension officers, and teachers in government and academia.
• Leadership includes the Vice-Chancellor (current) and the Director of Research, notable for steering innovation projects like crop variety development and field tools deployment. (PDKV)

8. Reputation, Awards & Recognition

Rankings

• EduRank 2025:
  • India rank: 390, global rank: 6,451
  • Top-performing subject areas: Biology, Environmental Science, Agricultural Science, Engineering, and Liberal Arts & Social Science. (EduRank)

Institutional Highlights

• High standing in Agri-science research, sustained through strong publication metrics and impactful technology transfer.
• Notable contributions at the statewide Joint Agricultural Research and Development Committee meeting—leading in accepted technologies among Maharashtra agricultural universities. (The Times of India)

9. Address & Contact Information

Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV)
Akola, Maharashtra, India
Jurisdiction spans 13 Vidarbha districts. (Wikipedia)
Website: www.pdkv.ac.in
Placement Cell Enquiries: Via central office email/portal. (Pdkvu)

✅ Strengths & Areas to Bolster

✅ Key Strengths

• Extensive research output across disciplines with strong citation rates.
• Proven technology transfer: crop varieties and tools ready for adoption.
• Broad curricular reach, including biotechnology, engineering, and seed science.
• Central university mandate covering seed production and extension education.

⚠️ Opportunities

• Placement outcomes remain modest—especially UG placement %; strengthening employer engagement and internship pipelines would help.
• More transparency in alumni tracking and long-term career outcomes.
• Expand global visibility through QS/THE participation and strong international academic collaborations.
• Develop digital learning mechanisms and upgraded residential or campus amenities.

🚀 Conclusion

Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth stands as a cornerstone of agricultural progress in Maharashtra. With deep research capacity, advanced crop innovation, and a broad course ecosystem, PDKV continues to empower rural youth, researchers, and farmers. Intensifying placement infrastructure, student storytelling, and global collaborations can further propel PDKV’s mission of science-led farmer prosperity.

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