Patanjali University and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology signed a memorandum of understanding on the sidelines of the 19th convocation ceremony in Meerut. Acharya Balkrishna, vice chancellor of Patanjali University, shared the update on Facebook. He said the agreement covers research, innovation, and joint work aimed at the growth of farmers in agriculture.
Balkrishna said the tie-up is expected to widen the reach of services Patanjali already offers to farmers.
About the host university
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology is located in Modipuram, near Meerut, along the Delhi-Dehradun highway. The university was set up in 2000 by the Uttar Pradesh government and is recognised as the first agriculture university of the 21st century in the country. It runs undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in agriculture, veterinary sciences, biotechnology and related fields, and is affiliated with ICAR and UGC.
Dignitaries at the ceremony
The convocation was attended by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel. Suryapratap Shahi, the state’s cabinet minister for agriculture, agriculture education and agriculture research, was also present. Gujarat Assembly Speaker Shankar Bhai Chaudhary and Minister of State Baldev Singh Aulakh attended as well.
University vice chancellor Triveni Datt and secretary general K P Singh were part of the event, along with vice chancellors from other universities, professors, elected representatives and additional dignitaries.
About Patanjali University
Patanjali University, also known as University of Patanjali, is based in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. It was established in 2006 under an act passed by the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. The university was founded by Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna, with Ramdev serving as president and Balkrishna as vice chancellor. Its campus is spread over 35 acres and it holds recognition from UGC and AICTE.
Patanjali runs a large network of farmer outreach and agricultural initiatives alongside its academic and ayurveda-related work, which Balkrishna referred to in his post as the base the new partnership will build on.
Focus on agricultural collaboration
The MOU signed at the convocation is aimed at combining research capabilities of both institutions to support farmers. Balkrishna’s post did not specify a timeline for the collaboration or the exact scope of projects planned under it. Details of the programmes to follow from the agreement are expected to be worked out between the two universities in the coming period.
The event marked the 19th convocation of the Meerut-based agricultural university since its founding in 2000.