Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya (UBKV) is a state public agricultural university located at Pundibari in the Cooch Behar district of West Bengal, India. The university is dedicated to teaching, research, and extension activities in agriculture and allied sciences, with a focus on the agro-climatic conditions of the northern districts of West Bengal.
| Name | Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya |
|---|---|
| Type | State public agricultural university |
| Location | Pundibari, Cooch Behar district, West Bengal, India |
| Focus | Agriculture and allied sciences |
| Jurisdiction | Northern districts of West Bengal |
The university was established to address the specific agricultural needs of North Bengal, a region whose terrain ranges from the Himalayan foothills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong through the Terai and Dooars to the alluvial plains of Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and the districts of Dinajpur and Malda. Prior to its formation, agricultural education and research in this region were carried out under the broader umbrella of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, headquartered in Mohanpur, Nadia.
UBKV was carved out as an independent agricultural university to provide region-specific solutions in crop husbandry, horticulture, animal sciences, and resource management for the diverse agro-ecological zones of northern West Bengal.
The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes in agricultural sciences. Its academic and research activities are organised across faculties and constituent colleges, supported by experimental farms, regional research stations, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) operating in several districts of North Bengal.
The research mandate of UBKV concentrates on issues relevant to the Terai, Teesta plains, hill, and old alluvial zones of West Bengal. Areas of work typically include rice and jute cultivation, tea-based cropping systems, plantation crops, vegetable and fruit production, and integrated farming systems suited to small and marginal landholdings. Through its KVK network, the university disseminates improved technologies, conducts on-farm trials, and trains farmers, rural youth, and extension personnel.
As the principal agricultural university serving North Bengal, UBKV plays an important role in shaping the agrarian economy of the region. Its work contributes to crop diversification, improved productivity, and rural development across districts that lie close to the borders with Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and the northeastern states of India.