B.Sc Honors Agriculture Class at Ilam Community Agriculture Campus: Offering Affordable Education for Skilled Agricultural Manpower
Ilam Community Agriculture Campus, located in the headquarters of Ilam, has been attracting students from different districts of Nepal, including Ilam, to study the 4-year course of 8 semesters in B.Sc Honors Agriculture. Established by Ilam Municipality last year, this is the first agricultural campus of Purvanchal University operated by the community and local levels.
Lower Education Fee than Other Campuses
Since it is a community campus, students can study important subjects at a lower fee than other campuses of Purvanchal University. According to the campus, studying this course in other campuses costs more than 6.5 lakh rupees, but here it will be studied for 4 lakh rupees. The campus has kept the education fee at a concessional rate to make it accessible to the common man and the sons and daughters of poor farmers.
Enrollment and Eligibility
The quota of 48 students was completed in the first semester when studies started last year, and this year too, more than 38 students have been enrolled in the quota of 48. Students who have passed the entrance exam of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the Eastern University are eligible for admission here. Campus head Dashreshtha said that the student enrollment process is going on and he is confident that the quota will be completed this time as well.
Curriculum and Infrastructure
The curriculum is designed in such a way that in the campus where general agriculture is taught up to 7 out of 8 semesters, the eighth semester is specialized, i.e., complete internship. Currently, there is 17 ropani land for experimental classes of students, and another 10 ropani has been taken on lease. A laboratory has been established on the campus, and the teachers of Mahendra Ratna Multipurpose Campus are helping to conduct partial classes.
After 2 years, post-graduate education will also start here, so the campus is planning more infrastructure and necessary land management. Since the campus does not have its own building, the classes will be conducted in the building constructed by the municipality for the bus park. Its infrastructural development is going on gradually.
Paid Internship and Job Opportunities
Students who can go for paid internship in the eighth semester will get a chance to earn income along with their studies. The campus says that studying here will enable students to compete in public service exams in most subjects. While completing the course, the students who can go for paid internship in the eighth semester will get a chance to earn income along with their studies.
Scholarship and Lack of Skilled Manpower
Ilam district has potential in the agricultural sector, and Ilam Nagar has established this campus during the tenure of its previous representative for agricultural technical production. However, during the establishment of the campus, it was discussed that some students would be educated on scholarship to produce the skilled manpower needed by the municipalities.
Unfortunately, even the Ilam municipality itself, which established the campus, has not given a scholarship to even a single student to study here. According to the campus, the other 9 municipalities of the district also did not send students to study here. Meanwhile, municipalities in other districts are teaching students here on scholarships. Currently, there is a shortage of skilled manpower in most of the local level agricultural branches of the district. In some municipalities, the manpower employed is of low educational qualification, but the municipality has not been able to show interest in producing skilled and qualified manpower in agriculture.
Overall, Ilam Community Agriculture Campus is offering affordable education for skilled agricultural manpower in Nepal. However, the lack of scholarships and skilled manpower in the municipalities of the district is a major challenge that needs to be addressed. Nonetheless, the campus is playing a vital role in providing quality education in the field of agriculture and is attracting students from different parts of the country. With its well-designed curriculum and experienced faculty members, Ilam Community Agriculture Campus is preparing its students to become future leaders in the field of agriculture. As the campus continues to develop its infrastructure and expand its course offerings, it is poised to make a significant contribution to the agricultural sector of Nepal, and to the development of skilled manpower in the country as a whole.
Last updated: 8th March 2023
Ilam