The foundations of modern agricultural research in Mandya were further strengthened by Dr. Leslie C. Coleman, a renowned Canadian plant pathologist and the first Director of Agriculture in Mysore. Under his guidance, the Agricultural Research Station at V.C. Farm was established, introducing scientific methods and modern technologies to farming communities.
Another towering figure was Dr. C.H. Lakshmanaiah, affectionately called “Ragi Brahma.” By crossing Indian and African ragi varieties, he developed the celebrated INDAF series, earning the title “Ragi Lakshmanaiah.” His pioneering work provided the scientific base for the Agricultural College at Mandya and the eventual establishment of UAS Mandya.
The V.C. Farm campus, spread across 650 acres (with 450 acres of fertile, irrigated land), has long been a hub of agricultural innovation. Water from the Cauvery River, drawn through the Visvesvaraya Canal, sustains its fields, supplemented by farm ponds, borewells, and open wells. Originally founded as a Sugarcane Research Station, the campus today houses three major wings:
- Education: Agricultural College
- Research: Regional Agricultural Research Station
- Extension: Krishi Vigyan Kendra
A historic milestone was reached on 15th September 1991, when the foundation stone for the Agricultural College was laid on the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya. Initially affiliated with the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, the college evolved into a cornerstone of agricultural education in Mandya.
The journey culminated on 24th April 2025, when the Government of Karnataka formally approved the establishment of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Mandya at the V.C. Farm campus, fulfilling a long-cherished aspiration of the Mysuru revenue district. Carved out of the jurisdictions of UAS Bengaluru and the Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga, the newly constituted university unites key academic and research institutions under one banner.
Today, UAS Mandya’s jurisdiction spans the districts of Mandya, Mysuru, Hassan, Chamarajanagar, and Kodagu, positioning it as a dynamic hub for agricultural education, research, innovation, and grassroots outreach in southern Karnataka. With a comprehensive suite of undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate programs, the university remains committed to nurturing talent, empowering rural youth, strengthening farming communities, and fostering sustainable livelihoods.
