Tamil Nadu Agricultural University

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) is a leading agrotechnology provider of India. TNAU was established as a separate university on June 1, 1971. It had its genesis in the establishment of an agricultural school at Saidapet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in 1868 and was later relocated on the Lawley Road, Coimbatore in 1905.

The milestones of growth and development of TNAU in transforming lives of Farmers.

• 1868 Agricultural School was started at Saidapet, Chennai (Madras)
• 1906 The Saidapet Agricultural School was shifted to Coimbatore and foundation stone laid for Madras Agricultural College.
• 1908 Students were admitted to education program leading to Licentiate in Agriculture (L. Ag.)
• 1909 Opening of Agricultural College and Research Institute (AC and RI) by Sir Arthur Lawley.
• 1920 The AC and RI was affiliated to Madras University. A new course of study leading to a three year degree in Agriculture (B.Sc.(Ag.) was started.
• 1945 Second Agricultural College was started at Bapatla (Now in Andhra Pradesh).
• 1958 Regional Post-Graduate Center was established to offer programs leading to Masters degree in Agriculture and Horticulture.
• 1960 Integrated system with four year B.Sc. (Ag) degree program after Pre-University education was introduced and subsequently doctoral program in Agriculture was started.
• 1965 Third Agricultural College was started at Madurai, Tamil Nadu and the Masters program at Madurai was introduced during 1969.
• 1971 The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University came into existence with Coimbatore as its Head Quarters.
• 1972 A separate Faculty of Horticulture was established and a degree program in Horticulture - B.Sc. (Hort.) was introduced. The College of Agricultural Engineering was established at Coimbatore and a Bachelor's degree program in Agricultural Engineering - B.E.(Ag) was introduced. Trimester system of education introduced.
• 1973 Doctoral program was introduced in Horticultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore.
• 1975 Faculty of Post Graduate Education was established in TNAU, Coimbatore and Masters and Doctoral (1978) programs were started in Environmental Sciences and Biotechnology.
• 1976 The Madras Veterinary College became constituent unit of TNAU and B.V.Sc. degree program was suitably restructured*.
• 1977 Bachelor's degree (B.F.Sc.) program in Fisheries Science at Thoothukudi was started. Masters and Doctoral program in Agricultural Engineering was introduced.
• 1980 Bachelor's degree (B.Sc. (H.Sc.)) in Home Science was launched in Madurai Campus.
• 1981 Masters program was introduced in Home Science College and Research Institute, Madurai and Doctoral program in 1988.
• 1989 Doctoral program in Agriculture was introduced in Agricultural college and Research Institute, Madurai; Masters program introduced in Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam and Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam.
• 1990 Masters program in Agriculture was introduced in Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam, Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu and Doctoral program in Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam.
• 1998 B.Tech.(Food Process Engineering) introduced as self supporting program.
• 2002 B.Tech.(Horticulture) and B.Tech(Biotechnology) introduced as self supporting programs.
• 2004 B.Tech.(Energy and Environmental Engineering) introduced as a self supporting program.
• 2006 B.Tech.(Bioinformatics) introduced as a self supporting program.
• 2007 B.Tech(Agricultural Information Technology) a unique degree introduced as a self supporting program^[1]

Notable alumni

• Dr.G.Rangaswamy - an alumni & also(was student of Nobel laurate Dr.Norman Borlaug), later became the first Vice Chancellor of TNAU
• Prof.C.Ramasamy, Vice Chancellor 2002-2008 provided the leadership to make it Global.
• M. S. Swaminathan - Enabled the Green Revolution in India
• Dr.R.K.Sivanappan - international scientist on soil and water conservation, popularized drip irrigation in India.^[2]

References

External links

• Official website