Lok Sabha Question No. 154 (STARRED), answered on 2020-03-02
Subject: Agriculture related Training to Youth
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Janardan Singh Sigriwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 154 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2020

## AGRICULTURE RELATED TRAINING TO YOUTH

## *154. SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

## Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any plan to provide the agriculture related training to create interest among the youth in agricultural sector keeping in view immense employment potential in the said sector and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) Whether  the  training  is  being  provided  to  the  youth  for  getting  employment  in horticulture, bee-keeping and animal husbandry;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  other  measures  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  for  Skill Development in the agriculture sector?

## ANSWER

MINISTER IN MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

- (a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## Statement in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 154* for reply on 02-03-2020 regarding 'AGRICULTURE RELATED TRAINING TO YOUTH' by Hon'ble Member Shri JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL

The  Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship  has  signed  a  Memorandum  of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on 20th March 2018 with a view to creating an efficient and effective training, assessment and certification process  for skill development  in  varied  job  roles in agriculture, horticulture,  animal husbandry,  fisheries  etc.  The  MoU  also  seeks  to  encourage  employment  of  skilled  and certified workforce and recognition of prior learning of the workforce already engaged in the sector besides encouraging youth to undergo skill training in various vocations in agriculture for livelihood opportunities. Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI) under the Ministry has developed  173  Qualification  Packs  for  various  job  roles  for  Agriculture.  The  skill  training courses are conducted through National Training Institutes, State Level Training Institutes (SAMETIs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras and State Agricultural Universities. The major areas of skill trainings include mushroom production, bee-keeping, micro-irrigation, maintenance and repair  of  farm  equipment,  horticulture,  organic  grower,  vermi-compost  production,  animal husbandry, dairying, poultry, fishery etc.

The  Ministry  through  Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana  (PMKVY),  Jan  Shikshan Sansthan and other non-PMKVY Programmes like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, State Skill Missions has been imparting skill training in horticulture, bee-keeping and animal husbandry etc.  As  per  data  provided  by  the  Agriculture  Sector  Skill  Council  (ASCI),  the  number  of persons trained in horticulture, bee-keeping and animal husbandry are as follows:-

- i Horticulture 38,371
- ii Bee-keeping 4,044
- iii Animal Husbandry  (Dairy and Poultry) 48,525

Besides Short Term Trainings (STT), the Government has been facilitating Recognition of Prior  Learning  (RPL)  which  is  providing  vocational  identity  to  the  agriculture  farmers  and labourers. RPL with bridge training is a great enabler for upskilling/ reskilling of farmers and also  provides  other  benefits  viz;  access  to  credit,  access  to  market,  reduction  in  losses, digital  skills  through  apps for  accessing  advisory  and market information, financial literacy enabling them to calculate and price their produce and benefit through safe and judicious use of Agrochemicals.

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