Junagadh Agricultural University (JAU) is a state agricultural university in Gujarat serving the Saurashtra region through integrated education, research and extension. The university came into existence on 1 May 2004 under Gujarat Act No. 5 of 2004 when the former Gujarat Agricultural University was reorganized into four regional agricultural universities. JAU's institutional roots are older: the College of Agriculture at Junagadh began functioning in June 1960, initially under Gujarat University. Its affiliation moved to Saurashtra University after that university was created, and the college later became part of Gujarat Agricultural University, established in 1972 with a statewide mandate for agricultural teaching, research and extension. The Junagadh system expanded further with institutions such as the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, established in 1984. As an independent university, JAU serves ten districts of Saurashtra and addresses the region's distinctive agricultural conditions, including arid and semi-arid climates, erratic rainfall, salinity and crop-specific production challenges. Academic activity covers agriculture, horticulture, agricultural engineering, agribusiness and postgraduate study in allied agricultural sciences. Research focuses on crops, natural resources, farm engineering, horticulture and production systems relevant to the region, while extension activity transfers university knowledge to farmers and rural communities. Saurashtra's major agricultural systems include groundnut, sesame, castor, cotton, pearl millet, wheat, spices, mango and sapota, alongside important livestock resources. JAU's regional mandate therefore links classroom education with field research and practical extension. Its long progression from a single agricultural college to a regional university reflects Gujarat's broader development of specialized agricultural education and research institutions. Its statutory service area covers ten districts of the Saurashtra region, where agriculture includes diverse field crops, horticulture, livestock and dryland production systems. University research stations and extension activities therefore connect academic expertise with location-specific farm problems, helping translate experimental work into recommendations for farmers and rural communities.