SAST Shirpur

Dr. R. Gowri Sankara Rao is the Dean at NMIMS School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology [SAST]. Having a rich background in the field of agriculture, he has the ideology to build a robust foundation for the institution. He wants to put in all his strength and utilise his knowledge to make agriculture a progressive field. Talking on the similar lines, he mentions that the institution aims to provide multidimensional and integrated knowledge related to agricultural sciences. He further goes on to elaborate that the curriculum incorporates industry relevant information which helps to shape the students according to industry norms. This helps the students to create a path for their future and helps them strive in their career. On a concluding note he talks about the future plans of the institute. He shares that there are plans for the future wherein students will get maximum practical exposure in the domain of agriculture. 

The challenges will help to create innovative opportunities and solutions post pandemic

There will be serious challenges in agriculture in the post Covid 19 era and the same can be said about the opportunities if they are perceived positively and attended with clear perspectivity. Covid 19 pandemic situation made us understand that everything could be unprecedented and uncertain. Hence, we should be planning for unpredicted challenges and meeting the local demands before we plan for eccentric desires.

A specific long-term strategy is needed with commodity wise plans that factor in comparative advantages, available market, production, productivity, consumption, subsidies and incentives. India cannot be an economic superpower without becoming self-reliant in the agriculture sector. There should be more novel interventions viz., growing high yielding and profit-making crops like vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, commercial crops, use of advanced technologies like measured irrigation and fertilizer applications, following precision and conservative farming practices, farm mechanization, hiring of machines etc would reduce investments and burden on farmers. Encouraging farmer producers’ organizations enhances value addition in agricultural commodities at farmers level, which in turn increases the farmers’ share in consumer rupee. 

Our institution aims to provide multidimensional and integrated knowledge related to agricultural sciences

Being the leader of the school, I look at providing Education for Agriculture. This implies providing multidisciplinary and integrated knowledge and live skills related to agricultural sciences as well as all allied occupations like horticulture, animal husbandry, farm mechanization, irrigation, organic farming, growing medicinal and aromatic plants, landscaping, food processing etc. All my endeavours will be towards career mapping of students followed by nurturing them to become employable in the area of their passion.

We have an integrated environment which caters to the need of the students beginning from the day one 

We provide experimental facilities for conventional and novel technologies. We understand the aptitude and attitude of students through a series of counselling and nurture them in the area of their passion. We create internships in related industries and finally, make them employable. During every semester we arrange discussions with agri-industrial experts to fill the gap between theory and practice.

I believe in delegation of work as per skill-sets and decentralization of power to make others feel in-charge of their work

My philosophy of leadership is understanding the team, appreciating their contributions & strengths, identifying their weaknesses / deficiencies and working on them. My aim has always been to give ample time for unlearning & learning. I believe in delegation of work as per skill-sets and decentralization of power, and making them feel responsible and accountable for their assigned duties.

Check SAST Shirpur Courses & Fees

I wish to utilise my strength and knowledge in the domain of agriculture

My strength is my network and PR which I built during my last 20 plus years of work experience. I acquired knowledge and skills in various fields of agriculture and allied sectors. I wish to utilize them to get more network / cluster development projects, create working projects for students to learn while learning kind of project making & implementation etc. 

Our curriculum incorporates industry relevant information which helps to shape the students according to industry norms

Most of our board of studies members are from industry. Therefore, our course curriculum has incorporated those learning elements and skills which usually industry feel like having in their incumbents. We also send students for internships (short term and long term) to industries for assessing their requirements and fine tuning their understanding & skills.

We have plans for the future wherein students will get maximum practical exposure in the domain of agriculture

Our institution offers Integrated course content and course structure. We have qualified faculty and facilities for enhancing the employability of students. There are classes of art laboratories and equipment and we are coming up with 115 acres of campus. There are many future plans viz., more courses and more programs like School of Agribusiness Management, School of Horticulture, School of Organic farming, School of Animal Sciences (Dairy technology), School of Agricultural Engineering, Post graduate studies (M.Sc. & Ph.D.)