Looking for the best agriculture colleges in North East India? The region offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral opportunities in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, agricultural engineering, food technology, fisheries, veterinary science and other allied disciplines. This guide brings together established agricultural universities and their major constituent colleges across all eight North-Eastern states.
Important: This is a curated guide to recognised public agricultural institutions and relevant colleges, not an official ranking. The right choice depends on the degree you want, current programme availability, admission rules, campus location and the latest ICAR accreditation status of the specific programme.
Top agricultural universities in North East India
1. Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Jorhat, Assam
Assam Agricultural University is the first agricultural university established in the North-Eastern region. It was established on 1 April 1969 and offers education, research and extension programmes in agriculture and allied areas.
- College of Agriculture, Jorhat – the university’s founding agriculture college; offers B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture and postgraduate/research pathways.
- Biswanath College of Agriculture, Biswanath Chariali – offers agriculture education in the North Bank Plains.
- Sarat Chandra Singha College of Agriculture, Chapar (Dhubri) – agriculture education serving the Lower Assam region.
- College of Horticulture & Farming System Research, Nalbari – relevant for horticulture and farming-system studies.
- College of Sericulture, Titabar – specialised education in sericulture.
Official website: aau.ac.in | Academic programmes
2. Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal, Manipur
Central Agricultural University, Imphal is a central agricultural university established under an Act of Parliament to promote agricultural education, research and extension in the North-Eastern hill region. Its constituent colleges are spread across several North-Eastern states.
Key agriculture and allied colleges under CAU include:
- College of Agriculture, Imphal, Manipur – agriculture education and research.
- College of Agriculture, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh – undergraduate and postgraduate agriculture disciplines.
- College of Agriculture, Kyrdemkulai, Meghalaya – agriculture education in Meghalaya.
- College of Horticulture & Forestry, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh – horticulture and forestry.
- College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Umiam, Meghalaya – postgraduate agricultural sciences and research.
- College of Agricultural Engineering & Post Harvest Technology, Ranipool, Sikkim – agricultural engineering and post-harvest technology.
- College of Horticulture, Bermiok, Sikkim – horticulture.
- College of Horticulture, Thenzawl, Mizoram – horticulture.
- College of Food Technology, Lamphelpat, Manipur – food technology and processing.
CAU also has colleges in veterinary and fisheries disciplines, which are relevant to allied agricultural careers but are not the same as a B.Sc. Agriculture degree.
Official website: cau.ac.in | Constituent colleges and university profile
3. Nagaland University – School of Agricultural Sciences, Medziphema, Nagaland
The School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Nagaland University is located at Medziphema. It offers programmes including B.Sc. (Ag.), M.Sc. (Ag.), M.Tech., Ph.D. and vocational programmes. Its academic departments include Agronomy, Horticulture, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Engineering, Genetics & Plant Breeding, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Soil Science and Agricultural Extension Education.
Official website: medziphema.nagalanduniversity.ac.in | School of Agricultural Sciences
Best agriculture colleges in North East India – state-wise list
| State | Institution / college | University / focus |
|---|---|---|
| Assam | College of Agriculture, Jorhat; Biswanath College of Agriculture; Sarat Chandra Singha College of Agriculture | Assam Agricultural University – Agriculture |
| Assam | College of Horticulture & Farming System Research, Nalbari; College of Sericulture, Titabar | Assam Agricultural University – Horticulture / Sericulture |
| Arunachal Pradesh | College of Agriculture, Pasighat | Central Agricultural University – Agriculture |
| Arunachal Pradesh | College of Horticulture & Forestry, Pasighat | Central Agricultural University – Horticulture / Forestry |
| Manipur | College of Agriculture, Imphal | Central Agricultural University – Agriculture |
| Manipur | College of Food Technology, Lamphelpat | Central Agricultural University – Food Technology |
| Meghalaya | College of Agriculture, Kyrdemkulai | Central Agricultural University – Agriculture |
| Meghalaya | College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Umiam | Central Agricultural University – Postgraduate Agricultural Sciences |
| Mizoram | College of Horticulture, Thenzawl | Central Agricultural University – Horticulture |
| Nagaland | School of Agricultural Sciences, Medziphema | Nagaland University – Agriculture |
| Sikkim | College of Agricultural Engineering & Post Harvest Technology, Ranipool | Central Agricultural University – Agricultural Engineering / Post-harvest |
| Sikkim | College of Horticulture, Bermiok | Central Agricultural University – Horticulture |
| Tripura | College of Fisheries, Lembucherra | Central Agricultural University – Fisheries Science (allied field) |
Agriculture and allied colleges worth considering
Students interested in allied agricultural fields can also explore these CAU institutions:
- College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Selesih, Aizawl (Mizoram) – veterinary science and animal husbandry.
- College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Jalukie, Peren (Nagaland) – veterinary science and animal husbandry.
- College of Fisheries, Lembucherra (Tripura) – fisheries science.
- College of Community Science, Tura (Meghalaya) – community science and related disciplines.
How to choose the right agriculture college
- Check the exact degree: B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Fisheries, Food Technology and Veterinary Science are different programmes with different eligibility requirements.
- Verify ICAR accreditation: Check the current ICAR accreditation list for the university, college, programme and validity period. Do not assume that every programme at a university has identical accreditation status.
- Review admission eligibility: Check the latest prospectus for Class 12 subject requirements, entrance examination, domicile rules, reservation and counselling process.
- Compare facilities: Look at laboratories, research farms, field training, hostels, faculty, internships and placement or higher-study opportunities.
- Use official admission notices: Fees, seat intake, counselling dates and programme availability may change each academic year.
Admission process and official resources
For admission to agricultural universities and colleges, candidates should check the current university prospectus and the applicable national or state counselling notification. The ICAR list of agricultural universities and ICAR accreditation and programme lists are useful starting points. For AAU admissions, visit the AAU website; for CAU admissions, visit the CAU website; and for Nagaland University, visit the university website.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the first agricultural university in North East India?
Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, established on 1 April 1969, is recognised as the first agricultural university in the North-Eastern region.
Which university has agriculture colleges in multiple North-Eastern states?
Central Agricultural University, Imphal, has constituent colleges located across several North-Eastern states, including Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Nagaland and Tripura.
Is there an agriculture college in Nagaland?
Yes. Nagaland University’s School of Agricultural Sciences is located at Medziphema and offers agriculture-related undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes.
Does every North-Eastern state have a B.Sc. Agriculture college?
The availability of a dedicated B.Sc. Agriculture programme differs by state. Some states have colleges specialising in horticulture, forestry, agricultural engineering, food technology, fisheries or veterinary sciences instead. Check the latest prospectus before applying.
How can I check whether an agriculture college is ICAR accredited?
Use the current accreditation and programme lists published on the official ICAR website. Verify the specific college, degree programme and accreditation validity rather than relying only on the university name.
Disclaimer: College names, academic offerings and institutional structures can change. This article is an informational shortlist, not a ranking or admission notification. Students should confirm programme availability, accreditation, eligibility, fees and admission dates directly from the respective university or college before applying.
