About US
- About AERC
- Objectives
- Commitment
- Director Message
- Advisory Commitee
- Association of Distiguished Economists
- Past Directors
- Founder Directors
- Details of 15 AERC in India
About the Centre
The Agro-Economic Research Centre (AERC) for the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan was established in July 1961 at the Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, New Delhi. It was late Shri H.M. Patel (ICS retd.) who not only provided the vision for establishing such an Institute but also ensured the much needed support and encouragement for its growth at Vallabh Vidyanagar. Though AERC is a part of University, it has been enjoying autonomy status in its working. The Centre has completed 59 glorious years (1961-2020) of its journey marked by both achievements and challenges. During these years, the Centre has emerged as a strong policy feedback centre of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India due to hard work and strong commitment of the staff in the Centre. The focus of research effort in the initial stage was on comprehensive village surveys and resurveys in order to understand the process and direction of change at the village level. Subsequently, the emphasis of research has shifted to problem oriented studies.
The Centre has by now completed 203 problem-oriented studies, 21 village surveys and 4 village resurveys. Most of these research projects have been taken up by Centre on the recommendation of the Government of India and State Governments of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Some of the projects have also been sponsored by other national and international organizations. During its long journey, the Centre has brought remarkable improvement in every aspect of research including methodological base of the studies. The studies have come out with useful findings and policy implications for agricultural and rural development of the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Many seminars and conferences were organized by the Centre (jointly with Department of Economics) during these years. Ever since its inception, the Centre has been working in close collaboration with the Post-graduate Department of Economics of the S. P. University and so far it has helped/supported about 40 scholars to successfully complete their Ph. D. work in agricultural economics. At present 10 students are registered for Ph.D. degree with faculty of the Centre. The Centre has organized the work of Comprehensive Scheme to Study Cost of Cultivation of Principal Crops in Gujarat entrusted to the University by the Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India during the period from 1971-2019. The principle objectives of the Centre have been as follows:
The area of coverage of the Centre is as follows:
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Objectives
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Our Commitment
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Director’s Message: Prof. S.S. Kalamkar
Director & Professor Dear Friends AERC of Sardar Patel University has emerged as a leading Centre of its kind in the country and has to its credit several noteworthy achievements. AERC is a one of the best Agro-Economic Research Centres in India which are established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, GOI. Centre has always been on the fascinating path of growth and development. AERC was singularly fortunate to have Dr. V. S. Vyas as its founder Director, who’s pioneering efforts, has established rich traditions of research in agricultural economics. This tradition was nurtured in the subsequent phase of three and half decades by Dr. Mahesh Pathak who served as Hon. Director during 1972-2006. Another unique strength of the Centre has been the association of some of the most distinguished Economist of our Country, such as Shri H. M. Patel (ICS retired), Dr. V. S. Vyas, Prof. M. L. Dantwala, Prof. M. V. Mathur, Shri D. T. Lakdawala, Dr. R. K. Amin, Dr. Y. K. Alagh, Dr. N. S. Jodha, Dr. D. S. Tyagi, Shri J. S. Sarma, Dr. M. S. Bhatia, Shri S. S. Jain, Dr. Mahesh T. Pathak, Dr. Sudarashan Iyenger, Dr. Amita Shah, Dr. Surjit Singh, Dr. Amrita Patel, Dr. S. S. Acharya, Dr. Tushaar Shah, and many others The Centre has now completed 59 glorious years of its journey marked by both achievements and challenges and now celebrating ‘Diamond Jubilee Year’ of its establishment (2020-21). During these years, the Centre has emerged as a strong policy feedback Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India due to hard work and strong commitment of the staff in the Centre. Centre is known for its unbiased quality report in time with appropriate policy implications as well as objective and independent research to discover and disseminate new knowledge on issues enjoying high national priority. Centre is committed to provide all necessary support through systematic investigation in proper policy formulation for agriculture and rural development at State as well as National Level. The excellence in research comes from the careful choice of faculty members in which AERC has not made any compromise. AERC has expanded its outreach to other renowned policy making institutions and the best academic institution by entering into active collaborations with them. Research collaboration with these institutions is not an additional feather in our cap but an integral part of our growth strategy. The Centre has by now completed 203 problem-oriented studies, 21 village surveys and 4 village resurveys. Most of these research projects have been taken up by Centre on the recommendation of the Government of India and State Governments of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Some of the projects have also been sponsored by other national and international organizations. During its long journey, Centre has brought remarkable improvement in every aspects of research including methodological base of the studies. The studies have come out with useful findings and policy implications for agricultural and rural development of the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan. We continue to strive for attaining new goals and open up new avenues for our academic endeavors. This is possible only though the hard work of all staff members, guidance received from the esteemed members of the Advisory Body of AERC, and the support as well as appreciation from a number of individuals as well as organizations within and outside the country. I wish to place on record my appreciation of the excellent work done by the faculty and useful support provided by the supporting staff of the AERC, who worked hard for achieving greater heights of academic attainments. My task is to continue the past good practices and maintain its status as an institution committed to excellence in research. |
About the Advisory Body
The Advisory Body meets once a year under the Chairmanship of Vice Chancellor to discuss wide ranging issues including technical administrative and financial matters of the Centre.
Composition of the Advisory Body as per Ministry’s Recommendations (July 2020)
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Association of Some of the most Distinguished Economist The AERC, Vallabh Vidyanagar was singularly fortunate to have Dr. V. S. Vyas as its founder Director, who’s pioneering efforts, has established rich traditions of research in agricultural economics. This tradition was nurtured in the subsequent phase of three and half decades by Dr. Mahesh Pathak who served as Hon. Director during 1972-2006.
Another unique strength of the Centre has been the association of some of the most distinguished Economist of our Country, such as
and many others
The Centre has received much needed support and guidance from the all the Hon. Vice-Chancellors of the Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar.
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Director / * Hon. Director of the Centre
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Founder Director of AERC, Vallabh Vidyanagar
Prof. V.S. Vyas
Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister Office: Vigyan Bhavan Annexee, New Delhi. E-mail: vsvyas@mac.com ; vijaysvyas2108@gmail.com The AERC, Vallabh Vidyanagar was singularly fortunate to have Prof. Vijay Shankar Vyas as its founder Director, who’s pioneering efforts, has established rich traditions of research in agricultural economics. He is still associated with the Centre as a permanent invitee on the Governing body of AERC. Prof. Vyas, Professor who is Emeritus in the Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur and Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister has a Ph.D. degree in Economics from the University of Bombay. He has taught in Bombay University, Sardar Patel University, and Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He was a Senior Fellow of the IDRC, Canada, and a Visiting Scholar at the South Asia Centre of the Boston University, U.S.A. Prof. Vyas served as Director of the Agro-Economic Research Centre, Vallabh Vidyanagar; Professor of Economics and Dean of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sardar Patel University; Member, Agricultural Prices Commission of the Government of India; Director, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad; Senior Advisor in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the World Bank, Washington, D.C. and, Director Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur. Prof. Vyas has served as Chairman/Member of several Boards, Committees and Commissions at the International, National and State Level. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the International Food Policy Research Institute [Washington D.C. U.S.A.]; Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, [Cali, Columbia]; member of the Governing Board of the Institute of Development Studies of Sussex University [U.K.], Chairman, Governing Board, IDS, Jaipur. He has consulted with United Nations Agencies, Bilateral and Multilateral Aid Agencies, National and the State Governments. Prof. Vyas has served as a member of the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India. Currently, he is a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India, and Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board of Rajasthan. Prof. Vyas is the Chairman of the Ajit Foundation, a NGO working with the objective of empowering youth in the framework of social justice. Prof. Vyas has written extensively on key issues of agricultural policies and rural development, and has been honoured by academic community in India and abroad. He was awarded Elmhurst Memorial Gold Medal by the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE) and has been elected as an honorary Life member of IAAE. Prof. Vyas is the past president of the Asians Society of Agricultural Economists, the Indian Society of Agricultural Economists, the Indian Society of Agricultural marketing, and Indian Labour Economics Conference. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences in India. Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur conferred on him degree of D.Sc. (Honoris Causa). Prof. Vyas has been honoured by the award of Padam Bhushan by the President of India on Republic Day 2006. *****
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Details of 15 AERCs/Us in India
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