Affiliating new colleges has not been on the agenda of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, for the sixth consecutive year.

The policy decision taken by the State Government to freeze affiliation of new institutions by TNAU factoring in the demand-situation continues to hold relevance, according to TNAU sources.

The TNAU has in its fold 28 affiliated private agricultural/horticultural colleges offering B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture and B.Sc. (Hons.) Horticulture. The Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT), Thanjavur, offering B.Tech in Food Process Engineering, seven Diploma Institutes offering agriculture subjects and one offering horticulture subjects are also affiliated to TNAU.

A total of 26 colleges are offering B.Sc. (Hons) Agriculture, and two colleges are offering B.Sc. (Hons) Horticulture programme. As per the procedure, the Board of Management of TNAU scrutinises applications and forwards the proposals to the government for issuance of No Objection Certificate.

The TNAU, thereafter, has to execute a Memorandum of Understanding, and it is renewed once in four years.

A standing committee nominated by the TNAU visits all the private affiliated agricultural/horticultural colleges/diploma institutes, once in a year to verify and report about facilities to assure quality education. The TNAU has already initiated the admission process for filling 2,516 seats in its 18 constituent colleges and 4,736 seats in the 28 affiliated colleges. About 75 % seats (3,051) in the private colleges are under government quota, and filled through single-window counselling. The remaining 1,685 seats are under management quota accounting for 35%.