Introduction

Agriculture in the 21st century is facing multiple challenges: It has to produce more food and fiber to feed the growing population with limited resources and erratic climate. Diversification reflects a change in business activities based on the flexible and differentiated response to changing opportunities created by new production technology or market signals. Change over from mono crop or a few crops to more crops in a year or more years can also be defined as crop diversification. Agricultural diversification is used as a strategy to reduce risks associated with traditional agriculture and improve returns to investment in it. Better technology, quality seeds, fertilizers, implements, market information and higher level of farm management through intensive crop specific farmer training are some of the critical inputs used for crop diversification. Due to diverse agro climatic conditions in the country, instead of cultivating a few crops varieties of agricultural items are produced. Broadly, these can be classified into two groups - food grains crops and commercial crops. Due to the challenge of feeding the vast population and the experience of food shortages in the pre-independence era, „self-reliance' in food grains has been the cornerstone of India’s agricultural policies in the last 50 years or more. Around 66 percent of the total cultivated area is under food grain crops of cereals and pulses. The participation of researchers and scientists including young minds from academia as well as industries will help shed a light on the recent developments in this area and will generate new ideas for the future researches.

In order to improve the socio-economic status of the masses, there is a dire need to create a harmonious balance among 'ruralization' and 'urbanization'. The real India essentially resides in rural areas, with livelihood largely based on agriculture and its allied activities. Therefore, the need of the hour is to strengthen our rural economy. This calls for scientific approach and mechanism through which youth can be imparted with latest knowledge and trained on modern technologies that aid efficient usage of resources. Sub optimal usage of available resources is very much prevalent due to lack of awareness on appropriate technology and resource use. The same is evident from drastic drop and inconsistent agricultural output, thereby creating economic hardship and posing a strong barrier to the balanced development of rural masses.

Choosing career as agricultural professional is a non-regrettable decision in one's life. Pursuing agricultural related degree opens up several future career opportunities. As the world seek for economic transformation, the need for well-trained agricultural professionals is more urgent than ever before. There is no doubt that agriculture will continue to be the backbone of every country's economic development.

SGVU School of Agriculture offers multifarious programs in Agriculture at Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctorate levels. These programs envelop various dimensions of agricultural science like Agronomy, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Plant Pathology, Soil Science, Horticulture, Forestry, Agriculture Engineering, Entomology, Microbiology, Agri-business, etc.

I am pleased to welcome all the students who have chosen to be a part of School of Agriculture. I would also like to invite prospective students to join School of Agriculture to be transformed as agriculture professionals.