Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSKHPKV), commonly known as CSK HPKV or the Palampur Agricultural University, is a state public university located at Palampur in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is the principal institution for agricultural education, research and extension in the state and serves the hill farming communities of the western Himalayan region.
| Name | Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya |
|---|---|
| Short name | CSKHPKV / CSK HPKV |
| Type | State public university |
| Focus | Agriculture and allied sciences |
| Location | Palampur, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh |
| Country | India |
| Named after | Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar |
The university traces its origins to the agricultural complex established at Palampur, which earlier functioned as a campus of Himachal Pradesh University. It was constituted as an independent agricultural university to address the specialised needs of hill agriculture, including rain-fed farming systems, horticulture, animal husbandry and the conservation of mountain agro-ecology.
It was subsequently renamed in honour of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar, a political leader from the Kangra region of Himachal Pradesh, whose name the university now bears.
CSKHPKV offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in disciplines spanning agricultural sciences. Its constituent colleges typically include:
The university operates regional research stations and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) across Himachal Pradesh, covering varied agro-climatic zones from the low hills of Kangra and Una to the cold dry zones of Lahaul and Spiki regions.
Research at CSKHPKV emphasises crops and practices suited to hill conditions, including rice, wheat, maize, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, temperate fruits and traditional Himalayan crops. The university has contributed to the development of improved varieties and recommended package of practices for hill agriculture, and works in areas such as soil and water conservation, organic farming, animal sciences and agroforestry.
Extension activities are carried out through KVKs, training programmes for farmers and extension workers, and collaboration with the state Department of Agriculture and Department of Animal Husbandry.
As a state agricultural university, CSKHPKV is recognised within the national agricultural education system coordinated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and its programmes follow the framework laid down for State Agricultural Universities in India.
CSKHPKV is one of the leading hill agricultural universities in India, and a major contributor to research on Himalayan farming systems. It plays a central role in human resource development for the agriculture and allied sectors in Himachal Pradesh and supports the state's rural economy through technology generation and farmer outreach.