The School of Agriculture (SOA), established in January 2005 at IGNOU, strives for a flagship role in turning the rural unemployed youth to first rate agricultural entrepreneurs and agri-business managers of tomorrow. The impact of agricultural education through distance mode will soon be discernible in development of new breeds of entrepreneurs, increased employment opportunities, higher earnings and better work environment.
This will help ensure poverty alleviation and livelihood security and sustainable productivity to change the quality of life, especially rural areas. SOA has been focusing on academic and extension activities in agriculture at the national and international level with the following mission, vision and objectives:
To improve and sustain the quality of human life and productivity of Agriculture and Allied Sectors through Open and Distance Learning.
To extend outreach of agriculture education by harnessing convergence between ODL and conventional system through national and international linkages.
Develop excellence, skill and entrepreneurship for strengthening the human resource base in agriculture through distance education.
Use technological innovations for improving outreach and effectiveness of distance education in agriculture.
Provide quality, relevant and equitable education through principle of distance education.
Establish linkages with institutions in India and abroad having expertise and experience in Distance Education.