Education is the backbone for the growth and development of a nation. As India is an agrariandominated economy, agricultural education plays an important role in providing human resources for improving agricultural productivity and natural resource management in a sustainable manner. The competence and performance of teachers are the key factors determining the quality of any educational programme. The current higher education sector in general and that of the agricultural sector in particular, is facing many critical challenges, including the quality of teaching. Identification of the key competences and characteristics of an effective teacher is essential for the selection, recruitment and in-service training of teachers. This article reviews the studies on teaching competences, covering the various dimensions, with special reference to agricultural education. The study calls for developing an appropriate competence framework to deliberate on the effectiveness of teachers, adjudge and prioritize areas for professional growth and development, and aid in planning their personal and career development. Strategies to enhance the competence of teachers so as to improve the quality of teaching in agricultural universities are also discussed. © Indian Academy of Sciences.
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