.jpg)
LPU Implements Climate-Adaptive Learning in Agriculture Training
Lovely Professional University (LPU) is expanding its agriculture education system and focusing on training and learning in climate-adaptive farming and research. This is especially important now when Indian agriculture is under pressure. Changes in climate, drought, and decreased productivity have raised the expectations in farming more quickly than traditional farming education systems can adapt.
LPU’s School of Agriculture now offers more opportunities to learn outside of the classroom. LPU has been recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC), has received an NAAC A++ accreditation, and has approval from ICAR-NAEAB. It combines classroom instruction with practical work on research farms, laboratories, polyhouses, horticulture and beekeeping units.
LPU has expanded its scope of training, which now includes production of crops, soil health, farming under changing climates, agribusiness, and agri-tech. The change is welcome news for students brainstorming an agriculture career. Agriculture has been a subject based on theory, and the exposure has been scheduled to occur only in the later years of University. This is no longer the situation as LPU is moving to provide practical exposure in the early years of the degree, and is responding to the expectations of the industry on its next generation of professionals.
Wide Program Portfolio Designed for Modern Agricultural Careers
LPU provides one of India’s most extensive choices of programs in agricultural education. Students can pursue a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Agriculture and an M.Sc. in the specialisations of Agronomy, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Soil Science, Horticulture (Fruits, Vegetables, and Floriculture), Landscape Horticulture, and Horticultural Therapies, in addition to Food Science and Technology and pursue their doctoral studies in the same fields, which are offered at LPU. It is the most suitable choice for students who wish to pursue a career in teaching and research.
What makes the curriculum different is that it combines theory with practical application. The RAWE (Rural Agricultural Work Experience) program places students in farming communities to learn the practical aspects of farming. Farm schools and industry-based incubation services extend this learning even further.
The transformation of agricultural education at LPU focuses on four pillars. The first pillar integrates practical learning modules, with respect to a crop management module, management of agri-tech and post-harvest activities, and the management of agri-business. The second pillar focuses on practical learning, with respect to farm schools and industry partnerships. The third pillar focuses on the highest levels of international teaching and training coupled with international university partnerships. Finally, the fourth pillar focuses on the highest levels of innovation and research, with respect to farming and renewable energy in conjunction with climate-smart farming and the domain of Genetics.
The Placement Ecosystem is Supported by Global Certifications and Major Industry Recruiters
LPU aligns its agricultural training with international standards by obtaining two globally recognised certifications - GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points). Through collaborations with these foreign universities, students who hold these certifications will find them to be very valuable in the global agri supply chains, giving them an advantage over other graduates in the final global employment arena.
The placement record is the best evidence of such positioning. Students from the agri school have landed internships and placements in international agriculture and associated sectors. The recruiters have included Mahindra, Syngenta, Adani, Amazon and Reliance, spanning agri-inputs, e-commerce, logistics, and a diversified conglomerate. The breadth of the recruiters should signal to prospective students that an agricultural degree from LPU opens opportunities across the spectrum of industries, far beyond agriculture and crop science.
For those evaluating placement as a determining factor for choosing an agricultural program, the internationally recognised certifications coupled with the extensive recruiter list make it evident that LPU designed their agriculture education with placement as a primary goal and not an afterthought. Students are equipped with the technical and the necessary industry knowledge to compete in a dynamic job market.
EduRevolution Model Turns Learning in Agriculture Into Income
One of the more innovative aspects of the LPUs model is the "Earn Your Fee Back" concept that is part of the larger EduRevolution framework. While still enrolled, students are urged to convert their learning into practical agriculture, agri-innovation, and research into profit-making ventures. The outcomes are not difficult to see. Students earned over Rs 20 crore from entrepreneurship, live projects, consultancy, and internships.
Now over 15,000 students have opted for MOOCs, industry-linked projects, and hackathons over traditional classroom learning. Over 400 students have set up companies that are profit-making and addressing numerous challenges, including those of agriculture.
With climate and resource-related challenges impacting agriculture in a sustainable manner, the focus to train and equip agriculture professionals with research and field-ready skills will only increase. For those seeking careers in agriculture, LPU’s extensive systems, training, and resources (international climate-smart curriculum and tools) offer a solid and career-enhancing opportunity.
Click Here for More Institutional Activities