The Anand Agricultural University came into existence from the 1st May, 2004 by enactment of Gujarat Agricultural University Act, 2004 (Gujarat Act., No.5 of 2004).

Even before the idea of rural university was mooted by the Radha Krishnan Commission the foundation of a rural education and research institute for training of farmers' sons was laid in Anand by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India far back as in 1936. His dream later on took a shape in 1940 as the Institute of Agriculture, Anand with active cooperation of Dr. K. M. Munshi, the co-author of the Indian Constitution.