Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) is a state public university located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to higher education, research, and extension in agriculture and allied sciences, and is one of the principal agricultural universities in southern India.
| Name | Tamil Nadu Agricultural University |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | TNAU |
| Type | State public university |
| Focus | Agriculture and allied sciences |
| Location | Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Country | India |
TNAU traces its origins to agricultural education initiatives in the Madras Presidency, with the establishment of an agricultural school at Saidapet in the 19th century, which was later relocated to Coimbatore. The Coimbatore campus eventually grew into a full-fledged Agricultural College and Research Institute, serving as the nucleus of what became Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. The university was constituted as an independent state agricultural university by the Government of Tamil Nadu, following the land-grant model that has shaped agricultural universities across India.
The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes in disciplines such as agriculture, horticulture, agricultural engineering, forestry, food science, home science, and agribusiness management. Its constituent colleges and research stations are spread across Tamil Nadu, with the main campus at Lawley Road, Coimbatore. Research at TNAU spans crop improvement, plant protection, soil science, agricultural economics, biotechnology, and post-harvest technology, with particular emphasis on crops important to Tamil Nadu such as rice, millets, pulses, oilseeds, sugarcane, cotton, and a wide range of horticultural species.
TNAU operates a network of regional research stations, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and extension centres that disseminate improved varieties, agronomic practices, and farm advisories to farmers across the state. The university has historically contributed to the release of high-yielding crop varieties and to the development of integrated crop management practices suited to the agro-climatic zones of Tamil Nadu.
As the apex institution for agricultural education and research in Tamil Nadu, TNAU plays a central role in shaping the state's agricultural policy support, human resource development for the farm sector, and technology transfer to rural communities. It is recognised among the leading agricultural universities in India and collaborates with national bodies such as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) as well as international research organisations.