Lok Sabha Question No. 446 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-19
Subject: ICAR Project
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Kotha Prabhakar  Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 446

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19/11/2019

## ICAR PROJECT

## 446. SHRI KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  project  will  be implemented  in  25  districts  (one  district  from  each  State)  through  the  Krishi  Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and each KVK will involve about 200 youths below the age of 35, if so, the details thereof; and

(b) whether  it  is  also  a  fact  that  the  Government  had  made  B.Sc.  Agriculture  a mandatory  qualification  to  get  licence  for  sale  of  agriculture  inputs  such  as  seeds, fertilizers  and  pesticides  and  this  will  create  several  thousand  jobs  for  agriculture graduates, if so, the details and the present status thereof?

## A N S W E R

## THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) Yes Sir, Realizing the importance of rural youth in agricultural development, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research has initiated a program called 'Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture' (ARYA) during the XII plan. Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA) project is being implemented in 25 States through KVKs, one district from each State. Depending upon the type of enterprise, individual or groupbased  activities/enterprises  are  being  encouraged.  In  one  district,  about  100-200  rural youths  are  identified for their skill  development  in  entrepreneurial  activities  and establishment  of  related  micro-enterprise  units  in  the  different  areas  of  enterprises  in agriculture.  This  provides  additional  opportunities  to  the  unemployed  rural  youth  in primary and secondary agriculture and related enterprises.

To strengthen it further, during the year 2018-19, the ARYA project was extended to additional 71 KVKs. Under the project, upto 2018-19, 12783 youth in various groups have been oriented for establishing micro-entrepreneurial units.

(b) Yes. As per Insecticides Rules, 1971; Person who applies for the grant of license to sell, stock or exhibit for sale or distribute insecticides shall possess or employ a person possessing a graduate degree in Agricultural Sciences or Biochemistry or Biotechnology or Life Sciences or in Science with Chemistry or Botany or Zoology from a recognized university or Institute; Or

One-year diploma course in Agriculture or Horticulture or related subjects from any government recognized university or institute with course content on plant protection and pesticides management:

Provided  that  all  retailers  or  dealers  possessing  a  valid  license  without  the prescribed qualification as on the date of publication of these rules as amended by The Insecticides (Second Amendment) Rules, 2017 shall be allowed a period of two years to comply with the said qualifications:

If the existing licensee of pesticide dealers, who are more than forty-five years of age  and  who  have  been  running  their  trade  either  themselves  or  have  inherited  with cumulative period of experience of more than ten years as on the date of publication of these  rules  as  amended  by  The  Insecticides  (Second  Amendment)  Rules, 2017 and the annual  turnover  is  less  than  Rs.  Five  lakh  are  exempted  from  the  aforesaid  rule  for  a period of license ship continuing in their name.

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