The Vivekanand Agriculture College was established in the year 2003, at the holy place of Vivekanand Ashram. The famous Vivekenand Ashram situated in the Hiwara village of the western Vidarbha district of Buldhana in Maharashtra state. On 14th of January 1965, the auspicious day of Makar Sankaranti, a visionary saint Swami Shukdas Maharaj established a charitable trust Vivekanand Ashram's in the memory of his mentor Swami Vivekananad. Shukdas Maharaj was a true social worker and reformer whose main objective was to helping the rural poor masses. Through this Trust he extended a lot of help to the poor, the sick and needy people not only of Buldhana and nearby districts of the Maharashtra state but from other states of the country too. The major goals of the trust included educating the poor masses by establishing the schools, colleges, orphanages, etc.

Keeping these objectives in mind, apart from the Agriculture college the trust also started several other educational establishments which prominently includes Vivekanand College of Agriculture Business Management, YCMOU Nasik study centre, Vivekanand Vidya Mandir, Vivekanand Dnyanpeeth (English medium), Vivekanand Residential school for Deaf Boys & Girls, Vivekanand Residential school for Handicapped Boys & Girls, Vivekanand Junior college of Arts & Science College of M.C.V.C. MLT/Auto Engineering, (Crop Science), Vivekanand Science College, Vivekanand Nursing College, The Ashram also engages in charitable diagnostic centers, Sanitation & Health education campaign, Old age home and many other social services and spiritual activities.

The Buldana district is a part of the backward regions of the Maharashtra, which was largely a rainfed area with lack of modern agricultural technology and the awareness among the farmers. The farmers generally relied on the crops like Jowar, Cotton and Pulses only. The yield levels too were very low. Lately, an oilseed crop of soybean have been replaced the cotton and Jowar crops on large scale. Due to lack of irrigation facilities and availability of quality inputs, the yield levels of all the crops were very non remunerative. Therefore, the late H.H. Maharaj Shri felt the need to establish an Agriculture college in this part of Maharashtra that would go a long way in educating the children of farmers and increasing the income of farmers in particular and rural people in general. This resulted in the establishment of Vivekanand Agriculture College on 9th October in 2003.

The Vivekanand Agriculture College undertakes two academic programmes. An undergraduate four year agricultural degree programme of BSc (Ag) with 120 students as intake capacity per year. Total 18 batches have been passed successfully by 2024-2025.

Another programme is a study center of YCMOU, Nashik (Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University) from the academic year 2004-05. It offers B.Sc. (Agriculture) and B.Sc. (Horticulture) programmes. Intake capacity for both discipline is 60 combined. It also offers another five certificate and diploma programmes viz. Certificate in Gardening (1 year Duration), Foundation in Agricultural Sciences (1 year Duration), Diploma in Horticulture (1 year Duration), Diploma in Agro-journalism (1 year Duration), Diploma in Agri Business Management (1 year Duration), The intake capacity for each of these five programmes is 60 students.

Present status of College

The college and college farm is situated near the dam on Koradi river and Pentakli dam at Pentakli river, about 60 % of the total 45 ha of agricultural farm is irrigated. The well qualified and experienced staff to conduct the course curriculum is the major strength of this institute. Similarly Digital lecture halls, well equipped laboratories, computer laboratory, established dairy with best milch breeds of cows from all over the country, experimental farm, Agromet observatory, Horticulture garden, well furnished hostel for boys and girls, canteen, healthy food, R.O. water facility, medical facility with 24 hrs Ambulance, internet facility along with Wi-Fi, ATM and Banking of SBI are some of the supportive strength of this college. Discipline amongst staff, students and strict ban on ragging are the additional features of this institute. College also runs some other useful programmes like cattle, fodder and dairy development programme, A hydroponic unit Social forestry (Tick wood plantation),Water conservation, Development of waste land, Mushroom production unit, vermicompost plant etc. Total 48 teaching and non teaching staff for 530 students and 11 departments the college is well reputed and one of the most sought after colleges by the students.

Mandate of the college:

1. To provide qualitative education in the areas of agriculture
2. To develop overall personality of the students during their graduation
3. To provide competitive graduates to the society
4. To provide extension services to farmers

Mission To impart vibrant, innovative and global agricultural education and thus make the students of Agriculture world leaders in terms of excellence.

Goal: To strive for attaining the excellence in the agricultural education and making the college /institution one of the best learning centers in agriculture in the state.

Objectives: To improve the livelihood of farmers of the region by helping to accrue higher income to farmers through imparting best agricultural education and transforming the rural parts of the state.

Future goals and objectives: We plan to start the post graduate agricultural education programme to cater to the needs of the agricultural graduate students of the region.