The existing Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) could accommodate only 1,808 students in an academic year, he said.

OUAT, established on August 24, 1962, is the second oldest Agriculture University in the country.

It has been discharging its triple functions of Education, Research and Extension Education Programme in an integrated manner in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sciences.

While felicitating 37 meritorious students of OUAT who have got Junior Research Fellowship of ICAR, Maharathy also said that a Veterinary University was also on the anvil.

Another College of Agriculture was being established under Xavier University

Amongst 66 universities, OUAT is the first university in the country to achieve the rare record of 37 students getting JR Fellowship in an academic year.