Historical Background of the College The Department of Agriculture was established at the Centre in 1877 followed by setting up similar departments by the provinces. It was soon realized that research and education are the very foundations for the development of agriculture. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, the noted thinker, social reformer and agriculturist of Pune appealed to the British Government to set up institutions for agricultural education and research in India. The Governor of Bombay Province Sir Richard Temple proposed the establishment of College of Agriculture at Pune and accordingly a branch for teaching agriculture was started in the College of Science at Pune in 1879, which was subsequently developed into a separate college of Agriculture in 1907. The college has completed 100 years and celebrated its centenary in the year 2007.