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An Expost facto research design was adopted to understand the learning approaches of agricultural students (deep, strategic, and surface) and the data were collected randomly from 1514 students of Indian agricultural higher education institutions using the ‘Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST)’ instrument. The predominant learning approach adopted by the agricultural students was found to be ‘strategic’ (41.1%), followed by ‘deep’ (40.3 %) and ‘surface’ (15.5 %) approaches. No significant association (Chi-square statistic = 24.106, p=0.156) was found in the student learning approaches across the disciplines, while significant difference (t-statistic=2.248, p=0.028) was found between graduate and undergraduate students in case of ‘deep approach’. Gender had a significant association (Chi-square statistic =14.817, p<0.001) with the students’ learning approaches, especially in ‘strategic’ and ‘surface’ approaches. The paper calls for more systematic and effective teaching-learning and assessment strategies to enhance agricultural higher education quality.

Building an effective online course requires an understanding of learning analytics. The study assumes significance in the COVID 19 pandemic situation as there is a sudden surge in online courses. Analysis of the online course using the data generated from the Moodle Learning Management System (LMS), Google Forms and Google Analytics was carried out to understand the tenants of an effective online course. About 515 learners participated in the initial pre-training needs & expectations’ survey and 472 learners gave feedback at the end, apart from the real-time data generated from LMS and Google Analytics during the course period. This case study analysed online learning behaviour and the supporting learning environment and suggest critical factors to be at the centre stage in the design and development of online courses; leads to the improved online learning experience and thus the quality of education. User needs, quality of resources and effectiveness of online courses are equally important in taking further online courses.

Andhra Pradesh is an agrarian state located in peninsular India with semi-arid tropical climate; divided into three geo-political regions viz. Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana. Regional differences in agro climatic conditions and irrigation potential resulted in regional imbalances in overall development. Agricultural production in Andhra Pradesh is dominated by small and marginal farmers who practice traditional mixed farming system. Major changes that took place during green revolution phase lead to increased irrigation potential, shifts in crops and cropping pattern, farm mechanization and fragmentation of land holding had direct impact on livestock sector. Cattle were predominant in the state during pre-green revolution period except in Coastal Andhra. Among cattle 44% were males, emphasizing their role as draft animal. By 2003, it was reduced to < 40% except in Telangana region, while proportion of females remained static or decreased due to changes in crops and cropping pattern, decrease in fodder availability from crop residues and mechanization. During this period, buffalo population has increased (>15 %). Among buffaloes, proportion of females and young stock recorded an increase of about 20% indicating shift in farmer's preference for milch buffaloes. The increase in proportion of male cattle; female and young buffaloes in Telangana indicate that farmers in this region prefer to keep cattle for draft and buffaloes for milk production. Spatial and temporal trends along with shifts in composition in cattle and buffaloes are discussed.

The social media concept has received much consideration from higher education since a period of ten years in India. The study was conducted for analysing the usage and effects of social media on agricultural students. The primary data was collected through questionnaire. Simple random sampling was employed, a sample of 126 students in which 100 PGDMA students from ICAR-NAARM and 26 B.Sc. Agricultural students from ANGRAU. The responses were analysed by using factor analysis and the most influenced responses were social media is a part of their everyday activity (0.88), their communication skills were improved because of social media (0.83), They felt that they were part of the social media community (0.87) and they derived satisfaction through networking and communication (0.84). These were the most affected statements from PGDMA students and B.Sc. Agricultural students. Conclusively, social media has enriched the acquaintance of individuals and build cognizance amongst students in all the aspects.