Overview
Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (M.P.K.V.), Rahuri, is a state agricultural university in Maharashtra. Established on 29 March 1968, it began functioning from October 1969, and is recognised as Maharashtra's first state agriculture university. The university is named after the social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule.
The university is headquartered at Rahuri in Ahilyanagar district (formerly Ahmednagar) and exercises jurisdiction across ten districts of western Maharashtra. Its main campus extends over 4,762.14 hectares, of which 3,739.1 hectares are dedicated to farm cultivation and the remaining 1,022.43 hectares are used for administrative and infrastructure purposes.
M.P.K.V. operates within the framework of the state's agricultural university system and pursues a three-fold mandate of education, research and extension. Under its educational mandate, the university offers degree programmes and agricultural education across its constituent colleges. Its research mandate covers advanced studies in the agricultural sector, including the development and supply of high-quality seeds and planting materials suited to the agro-climatic conditions of western Maharashtra.
The extension function of the university focuses on technology transfer to the farming community through training programmes, field demonstrations and outreach activities. Through these activities, M.P.K.V. seeks to link laboratory and field research with practical adoption by farmers in its jurisdictional region.
References
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth.