Historical background
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE INSTITUTE
The growing need of human resources man power in variety of schemes of agricultural significance of the State Government had been realized in late 50’s. In order to overcome the shortage of agricultural graduates, the subcommittee on agriculture and allied personnel recommended an increase in admissions to the existing Agricultural Colleges at Bapatla and Hyderabad. The state manpower committee appointed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh also felt the need for more trained personnel in agriculture, emphasized to start a new college and recommended the constitution of a committee to decide upon the location of the third Agricultural College in Sri Venkateswara University area as the other two colleges at Bapatla and Hyderabad were located in Andhra and Osmania University areas, respectively.
A committee consisting of Sri D. V. Reddy, Director of Agriculture, Sri C. Anna Rao, Executive Officer, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and the Chief Engineer (Buildings) was entrusted with the task of choosing a site in the Sri Venkateswara University area for locating the College. The Scheme for the establishment of the College was prepared by then the Principal of the Agricultural College, Bapatla, incorporating the experiences gained in the establishment of that College fifteen years earlier.
Initially the Principal, Agricultural College, Bapatla was kept in additional charge of the post of Principal of the S V Agricultural College, Tirupati. Sri M. V. Gopalakrishna Sarma was appointed as Gazetted Assistant to the Principal.
ESTABLISHMENT
Establishing the third Agricultural college at Tirupati has been a landmark in the history of Agricultural Education in Andhra Pradesh. Besides, meeting the personnel requirements of agricultural department and other technical departments of Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, the college also served as centre of Excellency in the development of trained human resources required in the field of agriculture who can serve the farmers in mitigating agriculture related potential field problems.
Sri Nukala Ram Chandra Reddy, Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh laid the foundation stone for the College and hostel buildings on 27th October, 1961. The college is located at the foot hills of the sacred Tirumala Hills in an area sprawling over 360 acres in a serene rural setting which is quite refreshing and splendid. Initially the college was financially supported by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) who had donated a sum of Rs. 4.0 lakhs and Rs. 2.0 lakh donation by Sri. Ramakrishna Raju, a philanthropist and business man, Bombay.
Sri C. Krishna Moorthy assumed charge as first Principal of S.V. agricultural College, Tirupati on May, 1962 in a temporary room in the administration building of the Sri Venkateswara University. He was later joined by other teachers in July, 1962 to impart instruction in the subjects of the second year of the degree course viz., Agronomy, Botany, Chemistry and Entomology. Instruction in Engineering (Civil) was imparted at the S.V. Engineering College and Animal Husbandry at the Veterinary College, Tirupati. The field practicals were conducted in the leased farm at Avilala village near Tiruchanur. The list of principals / Associate Deans of the college is furnished in Appendix – I
The college which was originally affiliated to Sri Venkateswara University was later transferred to the fold of Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (Formerly Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University) in the year 1964. Sri O. Pulla Reddy, I.C.S. (Rtd.) took charge as first Vice-Chancellor of Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University on 12th June 1964, from when on the newly born University started making significant strides to catch up with Universities of its kind already functioning in the country. In pursuance of one of the main provisions of the Act, with effect from 10th July, 1964, the S. V. Agricultural College became one of the constituent Colleges of the University along with others in the State, representing the essence a break away from the traditional University pattern. The College building was formally inaugurated on 28th December, 1968 by Sri V.V.Giri, the then Vice-President of India.
The foundation stone for a second hostel to accommodate 240 students, of two blocks, one with single rooms and the other with three seaters, was laid by the Vice-Chancellor Sri O. Pulla Reddy, on 10th September, 1966 and was inaugurated by Sri K. Brahmananda Reddy, the then Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh. The inauguration of these buildings marked a definite stage in the growth of this institution. It had by now acquired not only most of the physical facilities required for implementing the Under-graduate teaching programme but had also developed to such an extent as to press its claims for the institution of post-graduate programmes in several disciplines.