Attracting & Retaining youth in agriculture

Sunil Kr. Meena
M.Sc Scholar In Extension Education
Dr. PDKV Akola

1. Welcome

2. Dr . Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola ( Ms) Seminar Incharge Dr. V. S. Tekale Head Department of Extension Education PGI, Dr. PDKV, Akola. Post Graduate Institute , Akola Department Of Extension Education Master seminar On ARYA- Luring Youth Back To Agriculture Presented by Sunil Kumar Meena M.Sc ( Agri ) 4 th Sem Reg. No. PG17-EXT1950 Chairman Dr. P.K. Wakle Professor (CAS) Section of Extension Education , COA, Dr . PDKV, Akola

3. Content:- Introduction Factor which adversely the engagement of youth in agriculture What is ARYA Objective of ARYA Need Views to Attract Youth toward Agriculture Why ARYA Programme Operatinal Mechanism ARYA Project proceeding Status & Achievement SWOT Analysis of Yotuh Challenge to empower and retain youth in agriculture Conclusion

4. Combination of Innovation, Creativity and Energy is power of youth

5. The Share of agriculture in India’s economy is significant, albeit in decline. Youth plays vital role in meaningfully transforming Agriculture in India. Although the sector accounted the share of GDP next to industry and services, it remains the leading industry for employing close to two thirds of the country’s working population. However, India is losing more than 2,000 farmers every single day and that since 1991, the overall number of farmers has dropped by 15 million till 2013.(Anonymous, 2016) At the beginning of independence there was a belief for the selection of livelihood that, Excellent farming, Average business , Worst service ’ ’ , now-a-days it is totally opposite. INTRODUCTION

6. This has several implications for the future of Indian agriculture and India’s food security. Experts felt that there is need to attract youths towards agriculture because they can play an important role in ensuring food security if they are encouraged to involve in farming and the challenges they face are addressed. Because more than half of the country’s population is youth and according to the UN International Labour Organization (ILO) young people are more susceptible to be unemployed than adults. Source : National Youth convention - 2016

7. 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 Factors which affect adversely the engagement of youth in agriculture P ERSONAL FACTORS S OCIAL FACTORS E CONOMIC FACTORS PSYOCOLOGICAL FACTORS S ITUATIONAL F ACTORS M ARKET RELATED FACTORS L ABOUR RELATED FACTORS N EXT GENERATION RELATED FACTORS F AMILY PLANNING 01 02 03 04 06 07 08 S OCIAL FACTORS E CONOMIC FACTORS PSYOCOLOGICAL FACTORS S ITUATIONAL F ACTORS M ARKET RELATED FACTORS L ABOUR RELATED FACTORS N EXT GENERATION RELATED FACTORS F AMILY PLANNING 01 02 03 04 06 07 08 S OCIAL FACTORS E CONOMIC FACTORS PSYOCOLOGICAL FACTORS S ITUATIONAL F ACTORS M ARKET RELATED FACTORS L ABOUR RELATED FACTORS N EXT GENERATION RELATED FACTORS Chauhan and Patel(2014)

8. Not ready to quit farming despite good city job 26.00 % Ready to quit farming for a good job in the city 62.00 % Cannot say 13.00 % Fig 1 : Would you quit farming if you get employed in the city ? Source:- counterview.org 2 015 n=5350 8

9. A R Y A attracting Y OUTH RETAINING AGRICULTURE

10. Realizing the importance of rural youth in agricultural development especially from the point of view of food security of the country, ICAR has initiated a program on “Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture” on 16 th July 2015. Under this scheme, special efforts will be taken to attract the rural youth under the age of 35 years in agriculture so that the increase in the migration of rural youth towards cities is controlled . What is ARYA?

11. To attract and empower the youth in rural areas to take up various agriculture, allied and service sector enterprises for sustainable income and gainful employment in selected districts. To enable the farm youth to establish net work groups to take up resource and capital intensive activities like processing, value addition and marketing. To demonstrate functional linkage with different institutions and stakeholders for convergence of opportunities available under various schemes/ program for sustainable development of youth. Objective of ARYA

12. It is a matter of worry that in a farming economy like India, rural youth are looking down at agriculture with disdain and moving to towns, cities and urban centers in search of better jobs. Rural youth, apparently, are disillusioned with the country’s agriculture. Be it a marginal farmer or small farmer but even those operating medium and large farms are not spared either. What is really worrying is the fact even the educated rural youth, including agricultural graduates, are almost totally not interested in taking up farming as a profession. Even the majority of farmers do not want their next generation to do this thankless job, their traditional profession. They want them to settle down in towns and cities so that they can pursue more decent and lucrative jobs in urban metros. Need of Attracting and Retaining Youth towards Agriculture ( ARYA ) Source: Krishi jagran 2015

13. Views To Attract Youth Towards Agriculture The need for a strategy to keep youth grounded in agriculture was first voiced by the National Commission on Farmers, headed by noted scientist and father of India’s green revolution, M. S. Swaminathan , in its fifth and final report in 2006. "The youth can be attracted to and retained in farming only if it becomes economically rewarding and intellectually satisfying" , He had called for changes in the curriculam of agricultural universities to prepare and train the youth for taking up agriculture on scientific lines or engaging in agriculture-related income-generating ventures. Every scholar should be a potential entrepreneur.

14. At the policy level, the commission had consoled integration of on-farm and non-farm rural employment strategies. It had also stressed the need for providing essential facilities such as power, roads, education and health care, among others, in rural areas. Radha Mohan Singh also stated that, Agriculture has become unprofitable enterprise for small and marginal farmers. This sector not only needs integrated approach but certain structural reforms to deal with farm crises. Our country so heavily depends on agriculture cannot develop without making agriculture profitable .

15. In order to make agriculture remunerative enterprise, production and productivity both have to be increased, challenges of markets have to be addressed and the process of reforms needs to be carried out in the agriculture system. Ministry of Agriculture has taken several steps such as soil health cards scheme in mission mode, establishment of new KVKs, new Central Agriculture Universities and launching of ICAR scheme of “Attracting and Retaining youth in agriculture’’. Source : National Youth convention - 2016

16. Why ARYA Programme? 01 02 03 04 05 Youth find agriculture activities a burden some are willing to settle abroad. The productivity of primary sector depends on skills and new technology , but share in GDP is only 13.7%. ( Economic survey report:- 2016-17) The income of rural youth would become sustainable and meaningful. Primary sector need skilled youth with business skills to boost agriculture and allied sector. New scheme would help develop service sector in rural area by building entrepreneurial skills .

17. The project should be implemented in 25 districts (one district from each state) Through the KVKs of those districts With technical partners from Institutes of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Agricultural Universities and others. One or two entrepreneurial development units should be established at the KVK itself so that it serve(s) as entrepreneurial training unit(s) for the farm youth. The KVKs should also facilitate youth for establishing various entrepreneurial units at the farm of the youths or group of youth. Operational Mechanism 6

18. ARYA Project Proceedings Source:- http ://atarijodhpur.res.in/research-projects-arya.html

19. Under ARYA 930 different enterprise units related to mushroom production, processing and value-addition of Non Timber Forest Produce, processing and value-addition of lac, backyard poultry management, vermi -compost production, bee keeping, piggery, large cardamom production, fisheries, offseason vegetable production under walk-in tunnel, cardamom cultivation under protected condition, pineapple production, Integrated farming systems, production of vegetable and fruit nursery, herbal jaggery making unit, commercial goat farming etc. Were established during the year benefiting 2,467 rural youth in the selected districts. Skill training was given to 3,879 rural youth through 92 various training programs pertaining to the enterprise units allotted to each ARYA centre . Eight exposure visits were arranged to 327 youth to different enterprise units being managed successfully as training and confidence building measure. Status of ARYA project

20. ARYA scheme has implemented in KVK Nagpur (ICAR-CICR). That much participant are involved of this scheme. Clientele No. of Courses Male female Total participant Farmers & farm women 114 6500 3080 9580 Rural Youth 62 3428 992 4420 Extension Functionaries 16 650 312 962 Sponsored Training 1 10 30 40 Vocational Training 1 68 294 362 Total 194 10656 4708 15364 Sources:-ANNUAL REPORT of KVK (ICAR-CICR) , Nagpur

21. ICAR-CIBA sighed a MoU with Sri Sathvika Aqua Agro Industries Private Limited and developed cost effective and quality feed shrimp using indigenous feed ingredients for vannamei farming, and the feed is promoted as the ‘ Vannami plus’, under ARYA programme. Under ICAR-ATARI, Umaim 5 KVKs namely; Senapati in Manipur, Karbi Anglong in Assam, workha in Nagaland, Lunglei in Mizoram and North Sikkim in Sikkim are implementing the ARYA project for the benefit of rural youth in their respective districts. A brief achievement made by the implementing KVKs during 2016-17  In Karbi Anglong (Assam) total 111 rural youth benefitted from different enterprises like poultry, piggery, pineapple and mushroom. I n senapati (Manipur) 120 rural youth got training about mushroom cultivation, piggery, poultry, fisheries, large cardamom. Achievements of ARYA project

22. In Lunglei (Mizoram) 145 rural youth benefited with various enterprises such as piggery, poultry, mushroom and bee keeping. I n workha (Nagaland) 90 rural youth succeed in attaining several enterprises like mushroom, poultry, piggery and cut flowers. In north Sikkim 90 rural youth gained diverse enterprises like cardamom cultivation in protected cultivation, piglet cultivation, off season vegetable production under walk in tunnel. Source:icarzcu3.gov.in/projects/arya.html

23. SWOT analysis of rural youth 1. Strengths They possess good energy. They have capacity & ability to produce more. Due to their exposure to media, they are capable of accepting new ideas in farming. 2. Weakness Elderly farmers in the family takes the decision in farming. They lack training in improved methods & skills. Non- remunerative prices to agricultural produce. Agriculture is not perceived as lucrative vocation.

24. Opportunities Increased market for agricultural produce & secondary agricultural commodities, which ensures good income to young farmers. Training opportunities through KVKs & other training institutions. Farmer friendly policies, incentives & schemes of the Government in the field of agriculture Threats . Increased migration to urban areas. Less respect for agriculture profession. Poverty & unemployment in rural areas. Lack of education.

25. 01 Education 02 Access to knowledge and agricultural information 03 Limited access to land 04 Financial investment 05 Limited knowledge and information of marketing strategies 06 Lack of national youth policies 07 Limited role of youth in policy making Challenges to empower and retain youths in agriculture Source : National Youth convention - 2016

26. CONCLUSION There is a need of attracting and retaining rural youth in agriculture in India. For this urgent need is realized to develop attractive strategy and policy by Government for attracting rural youths towards agriculture. The availability of low cost input, technical assistance, training, availability of drudgery reducing machinery, arrangement of maintenance of machinery, capacity building, provision of farmers' friendly market linkage, value addition procedure, tie up with local institutions, encouragement to the export of agro products and practical oriented agricultural higher education system are important areas to focus to attract youths towards agriculture. ICAR has initiated ARYA programme, however more critical efforts are expected to attract youths towards agriculture as profession not only to feed stomachs of second largest population of world but also for the sustainable development of rural India.

27. Thank you