Best Agriculture Colleges and Universities in Maharashtra
Explore state agricultural universities, fisheries, veterinary and allied institutions, private agriculture colleges, NIRF 2025 ranking and admission guidance.
Maharashtra has one of India’s most extensive agricultural higher-education systems. Four state agricultural universities serve different agro-climatic regions: Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV), Rahuri; Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), Akola; Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV), Parbhani; and Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth (DBSKKV), Dapoli. The state also hosts the ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, and Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University (MAFSU), Nagpur.
Leading government agricultural universities
1. Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV), Rahuri
MPKV serves western Maharashtra, including the districts of Ahilyanagar (Ahmednagar), Nashik, Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Pune, Solapur, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur. Its research and teaching address irrigated and dryland agriculture, sugarcane, cereals, pulses, oilseeds, horticulture and farm mechanisation.
Study areas: B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, horticulture and agricultural engineering, along with postgraduate and doctoral programmes in agricultural sciences. Constituent colleges and regional research stations provide exposure to diverse farming systems.
Key college: College of Agriculture, Pune; College of Agriculture, Dhule; College of Agriculture, Kolhapur; and other constituent colleges listed in the current admission directory. Check the latest seat matrix and campus details.
2. Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), Akola
PDKV serves the Vidarbha region, including Akola, Amravati, Yavatmal, Washim, Buldhana, Wardha, Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Gadchiroli and Chandrapur. Its research is particularly relevant to cotton, soybean, pulses, oilseeds, dryland farming and management of rainfed agricultural systems.
Study areas: Agriculture, horticulture and agricultural engineering at undergraduate level, with M.Sc. and Ph.D. programmes in notified disciplines. The university’s research and extension network is closely connected to Vidarbha’s crop and farming challenges.
Key college: College of Agriculture, Akola; College of Agriculture, Nagpur; College of Agriculture, Amravati; and other colleges listed by the university and state admission authority.
3. Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV), Parbhani
VNMKV serves the Marathwada region, including Parbhani, Hingoli, Nanded, Latur, Dharashiv, Beed, Jalna and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Its research and teaching address rainfed agriculture, water scarcity, cotton, pulses, oilseeds, sorghum and climate-resilient farming.
Study areas: B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture and allied undergraduate programmes, with postgraduate and doctoral specialisations in crop sciences, horticulture, agricultural engineering and other agricultural disciplines as notified.
Key college: College of Agriculture, Parbhani, along with constituent and affiliated colleges in the university jurisdiction. Confirm the current admission list for approved colleges and intake.
4. Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth (DBSKKV), Dapoli
DBSKKV serves the Konkan region, including Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Raigad, Thane, Palghar and Mumbai districts. Its special strengths include horticulture, rice-based farming, coastal agriculture, fisheries-related research, plantation crops, cashew, mango and natural-resource management in high-rainfall environments.
Study areas: Agriculture, horticulture, forestry and agricultural engineering programmes, with postgraduate and doctoral research. Students interested in coastal and humid-region agriculture may find its regional research environment particularly relevant.
Key college: College of Agriculture, Dapoli; College of Horticulture, Dapoli; and other constituent colleges and research facilities.
National and specialised public institutions
5. ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai
Score: 63.92
CIFE is a Deemed-to-be University under ICAR and a national centre for higher education and research in fisheries science and aquaculture. It is particularly relevant to students seeking postgraduate and doctoral qualifications in fisheries, aquaculture, aquatic animal health, fish processing, fish biotechnology and resource management.
Programmes: Master’s and doctoral programmes in fisheries and allied specialisations, as notified in the annual admission bulletin. It is not a general undergraduate B.Sc. Agriculture college; applicants should review the eligibility requirements for each postgraduate discipline.
6. Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University (MAFSU), Nagpur
MAFSU coordinates specialised higher education in veterinary, animal and fisheries sciences in Maharashtra. Its constituent colleges and institutions support veterinary medicine, animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries-related education and research.
Study areas: Veterinary science and animal husbandry, dairy technology and fisheries programmes through constituent colleges. These are professional and allied degrees with distinct admission and regulatory requirements; they should not be confused with B.Sc. Agriculture.
Private agriculture colleges and universities in Maharashtra
Maharashtra has a large network of unaided and private colleges offering agriculture and allied professional degrees. Many are affiliated to the state agricultural universities and participate in the state Centralised Admission Process (CAP). The official admission portal publishes college names, course options, intake and notices for the current academic year. Rather than treating every private college as an independent agricultural university, applicants should verify its current affiliation, approval and programme intake in the official CAP list.
1. Private B.Sc. Agriculture colleges affiliated to the four state agricultural universities
Private and unaided colleges operate under the academic jurisdiction and affiliation arrangements of MPKV, PDKV, VNMKV and DBSKKV. The state admission portal lists participating colleges and their sanctioned intake for the current year. Students can compare colleges by university affiliation, district, facilities and CAP seat matrix.
Before applying: Verify the exact college name, university affiliation, approved B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture intake, current-year CAP participation, fees and hostel facilities using the official college list and prospectus.
2. Private universities offering agriculture-related degrees
Some private universities in Maharashtra offer programmes in food technology, biotechnology, environmental science, agribusiness, horticulture or life sciences. These may be useful for specialised agri-food careers, but a related science programme is not automatically equivalent to a professional B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture degree.
Confirm the exact programme, campus, university status, agriculture regulator requirements, ICAR accreditation (where applicable), state admission permission and CAP eligibility before admission. Use the official 2026–27 agriculture college list rather than relying only on marketing pages.
Official Maharashtra agriculture admission notices and college list
Quick comparison of Maharashtra institutions
| Institution | Type | Location | Specialisation / region | NIRF Agriculture 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education | ICAR Deemed-to-be University | Mumbai | Fisheries and aquaculture | 8 (63.92) |
| Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth | State agricultural university | Rahuri | Western Maharashtra | Not in top 40 |
| Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth | State agricultural university | Akola | Vidarbha | Not in top 40 |
| Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth | State agricultural university | Parbhani | Marathwada | Not in top 40 |
| Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth | State agricultural university | Dapoli | Konkan | Not in top 40 |
| Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University | State specialised university | Nagpur | Veterinary, animal and fisheries sciences | Not in top 40 |
Admission process for agriculture courses in Maharashtra
- UG professional agriculture admissions: Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell conducts the Centralised Admission Process for agriculture professional degree courses. Follow the current 2026–27 information brochure, registration notices, merit lists, option forms and CAP rounds.
- Entrance and eligibility: Course-specific eligibility and entrance requirements can vary. Read the current CET Cell brochure for subject combinations, qualifying examinations, domicile/category conditions and accepted entrance scores.
- College and intake verification: Use the official CAP college list with intake to check the exact institution, course, university affiliation and sanctioned seats. The list can change during the admission cycle.
- PG and Ph.D. admissions: Follow the relevant agricultural university’s postgraduate admission notification and ICAR’s current admission bulletin for applicable seats and disciplines.
- Fisheries and veterinary: CIFE, MAFSU and constituent colleges have specialised professional admission routes. Check the relevant university and regulatory requirements separately.
- Accreditation: Check the latest ICAR accreditation list for the exact programme, campus, intake and validity. Affiliation, university recognition, NIRF ranking and ICAR accreditation are separate matters.
How to choose the right agriculture college
- Match the institution’s regional strengths to your interests: dryland farming in Vidarbha and Marathwada, horticulture and sugarcane in western Maharashtra, or coastal agriculture and fisheries in Konkan.
- Compare teaching farms, research stations, laboratories, orchards, mechanisation facilities, soil and plant diagnostic labs and practical field training.
- For unaided colleges, check affiliation to the relevant state agricultural university, current CAP participation, sanctioned intake and approved fees.
- Ask about hostel availability, student support, scholarships, internships, RAWE, industry attachment and placement assistance.
- For fisheries, veterinary, dairy and food technology programmes, compare the professional curriculum and career pathway separately from B.Sc. Agriculture.
Explore agriculture colleges in other states
Explore our detailed guide to agriculture colleges and universities in Odisha, including OUAT and its constituent colleges.
Explore our detailed guide to agriculture colleges and universities in Telangana, including government universities and admission guidance.
Explore our detailed guide to agriculture colleges and universities in Andhra Pradesh, including government and private institutions.
Explore our detailed guide to agriculture colleges and universities in Kerala, including government and allied universities.
Continue with our guides to Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Gujarat. Also see our national guide to private agricultural universities.
Plan your agriculture education in Maharashtra
Compare university jurisdiction, college affiliation, CAP seat intake, fees, facilities and current accreditation before selecting an institution.
MPKV Rahuri · PDKV Akola · VNMKV Parbhani · DBSKKV Dapoli · CIFE Mumbai · Agriculture CAP 2026–27
Official sources and references
- NIRF 2025 – Agriculture and Allied Sectors ranking.
- ICAR – List of Agricultural Universities.
- ICAR – State Agricultural Universities directory.
- Maharashtra State CET Cell – Agriculture CAP 2026–27.
- Maharashtra agriculture professional degree prospectus – university jurisdictions.
- Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth.
- Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth.
- Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth.
- Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth.
- ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education.
- Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University.
- ICAR – updated accreditation lists of agricultural universities and colleges.
Editorial note: This guide is informational and is not an official ranking or admission notification. NIRF data refers to 2025. The Maharashtra CAP portal and prospectus are the controlling sources for current admissions, college participation and intake. Courses, eligibility, fees and accreditation can change; confirm all details with the university, CET Cell and ICAR for the current academic session.
