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An analysis of the landscape of agricultural research in India: The database of PhDs of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, 1947–2023.

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Title: An analysis of the landscape of agricultural research in India: The database of PhDs of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, 1947–2023.
Authors: Agrawal, RC1 (AUTHOR), Kumar, Amrender1 (AUTHOR), Savary, Serge2,3,4,5 (AUTHOR) ssavary01@gmail.com
Source: Outlook on Agriculture. Sep2025, Vol. 54 Issue 3, p293-308. 16p.
Subjects: Agricultural research, Agronomy, Animal science, Academic dissertations, Climate change
Geographic Terms: India
Abstract: This article offers an overview of agricultural research in India through the analysis of a database established and curated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), in which PhD theses are deposited. The analysis considers 35,122 PhD dissertation titles over a period of about 80 years (1947–2023), with the objective of identifying patterns of research and their evolution. The procedure followed to prepare data and the statistical methods used are described. These are specific to the multidimensional analysis of qualitative data. Descending hierarchical classification led to the identification of five theme-clusters: "Agronomy", "Genetics", "Plant Health", "Animal Sciences", and "Social Sciences", accounting for 29.0, 16.9, 17.7, 21.0, and 15.5% of the total number of classified PhD titles (93% of the total), respectively. Multiple correspondence analysis allows quantifying the links between and mapping of these theme-clusters and their associated terms (key-words), along with supplementary variables: disciplinary fields and years. Overall, the analysis shows stability of the theme-clusters over time, along with the disciplinary fields of Indian research. There however is a clear dynamic in the importance of terms. Besides the stability of these theme-clusters, the importance of research on agricultural extension, and the permanent importance over the 80-year period of key staples (rice and wheat), along with pulses, fruits and vegetables, are among some key features of Indian agricultural research. The required future research on climate change regarding its impacts and the need for adaptation on crops, animals and agricultural systems is emphasised. We discuss the relevance of PhD dissertation titles (as opposed to, for example the commonplace literature review approach) as an instrument to explore and analyse a large and diverse landscape of research. The analysis also brings about a discussion and views on the merits and the required balance between short-term, application-oriented research versus long-term, knowledge- and understanding-oriented research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Outlook on Agriculture is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: This article offers an overview of agricultural research in India through the analysis of a database established and curated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), in which PhD theses are deposited. The analysis considers 35,122 PhD dissertation titles over a period of about 80 years (1947–2023), with the objective of identifying patterns of research and their evolution. The procedure followed to prepare data and the statistical methods used are described. These are specific to the multidimensional analysis of qualitative data. Descending hierarchical classification led to the identification of five theme-clusters: "Agronomy", "Genetics", "Plant Health", "Animal Sciences", and "Social Sciences", accounting for 29.0, 16.9, 17.7, 21.0, and 15.5% of the total number of classified PhD titles (93% of the total), respectively. Multiple correspondence analysis allows quantifying the links between and mapping of these theme-clusters and their associated terms (key-words), along with supplementary variables: disciplinary fields and years. Overall, the analysis shows stability of the theme-clusters over time, along with the disciplinary fields of Indian research. There however is a clear dynamic in the importance of terms. Besides the stability of these theme-clusters, the importance of research on agricultural extension, and the permanent importance over the 80-year period of key staples (rice and wheat), along with pulses, fruits and vegetables, are among some key features of Indian agricultural research. The required future research on climate change regarding its impacts and the need for adaptation on crops, animals and agricultural systems is emphasised. We discuss the relevance of PhD dissertation titles (as opposed to, for example the commonplace literature review approach) as an instrument to explore and analyse a large and diverse landscape of research. The analysis also brings about a discussion and views on the merits and the required balance between short-term, application-oriented research versus long-term, knowledge- and understanding-oriented research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Outlook on Agriculture is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Agricultural research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Agronomy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Animal science
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      – SubjectFull: Academic dissertations
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      – SubjectFull: Climate change
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      – SubjectFull: India
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      – TitleFull: An analysis of the landscape of agricultural research in India: The database of PhDs of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, 1947–2023.
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            NameFull: Kumar, Amrender
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              M: 09
              Text: Sep2025
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              Y: 2025
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