Lok Sabha Question No. 1157 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-18
Subject: Agricultural Skill Development
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1157

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## AGRICULTURAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT

1157.   SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  decided  to  give  priority  to  train  rural  farmers  through National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) for setting up small scale industries based on food products, fruits and vegetables;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) whether the Government would take any decision in this regard to enable the farmers to increase their income and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a): Yes, Madam.
- (b) & (c): The Ministry for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has been formed to focus on enhancing employability of the youth through skill development. Skill India Mission has  been launched to empower the rural  youth and promote better employment opportunities across the country.

The  National  Skill  Development  Agency  (NSDA),  an  autonomous  body  under  MSDE operationalizes the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) and allied quality assurance mechanism for synergizing skill initiatives in the country.

The NSDA has approved 108 Qualification Packs (QPs) developed by Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI) in agriculture and allied areas for conducting skill trainings for rural youth and farmers in compliance with NSQF. The list of QPs is given in Annexure - I.

ASCI  has  imparted  training  to 90209  rural  youth  and  farmers through 3004  skill training courses conducted since 2014-15 to 2018-19 (till  date). The area-wise list of training courses is given in Annexure - II .

The  Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers'  Welfare  has  been  organizing  the  skill  training courses of minimum 200 hours duration for rural youth and farmers through National Training Institutes,  State  Level  Training  Institutes  (SAMETIs)  ,  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  and  State Agricultural Universities.  During  last  three  years (2016-17 & 2018-19), 7141 rural youth and Continue….2/-

farmers were trained through 356 skill training courses, out of which 1219 rural youth were trained in the areas of food products, fruits and vegetables through 68 training courses.

The Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)', under implementation since 2014-15 provides for setting up of pack house, integrated pack house with facilities for conveyer belt, sorting, grading units, washing, drying and weighing units,  pre-cooling  unit,  cold  room  (staging),  mobile  cooling  unit,  cold  storage  with  different capacity, refrigerated transport vehicles, primary/mobile/minimal processing unit, ripening chamber,  evaporative  /low  energy  cool  chamber,  preservation  unit,  low  cost  onion  storage structure,  Pusa  zero  energy  cool  chamber,  and  integrated  cold  chain  supply  System,  so  that farmers can get remunerative prices for their produce and enable them to increase their income.

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI) has formulated a Scheme for Human Resources  and  Institution  -  Skill  Development  (SHRISD)  under  the  Central  Sector  Scheme 'Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Sampada  Yojana'  for  a  period  coterminous  with  the  14th  Finance Commission  cycle.  The  guidelines  of  the  Scheme  were  issued  by  MOFPI  on  05/10/2018. Applications have been invited from eligible institutions.

The objective of the scheme is to create a pool of skilled workforce in different domain of food processing industries and to promote entrepreneurship development in rural areas.

Two  Institutes  under  the  administrative  control  of  MoFPI,  namely,  National  Institute  of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) at Sonipat, Haryana and Indian Institute  of  Food  Processing  Technology  at  Thanjavur,  Tamil  Nadu  are  imparting  B.Tech., M.Tech. and Ph.D. degrees. Besides this, they are also conducting regular programmes/courses on skill development and entrepreneurship for the youth, farmers, self-help groups and industry to create skilled workers/entrepreneurs.

Under village adaption programme of NIFTEM, B.Tech. (Food Tech. & Management) and M.  Tech.  and  M.B.A.  students  participate  in  groups  and  stay  in  villages.  The  village  (which includes rural farmers) gain scientific and technical knowledge through students, who promote future possibilities of food processing among them.

Qualification Packs in Agriculture & Allied Areas Developed by Agriculture Skill Council of India & Approved by National Skill Qualification Committee (as on 30.11. 2018)

| S. No.   | Job Role                                                      | QP Code   | NSQF Level   |
|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|--------------|
|          | Soil Health Management                                        |           |              |
| 1.       | Soil Sampler/collector                                        | AGR/Q8104 | 3            |
| 2.       | Soil & Water Testing Lab Analyst                              | AGR/Q8103 | 5            |
| 3.       | Soil & Water Testing Lab Assistant                            | AGR/Q8102 | 4            |
|          | Agri Information Management                                   |           |              |
| 4.       | Agriculture Field Officer                                     | AGR/Q7701 | 4            |
| 5.       | Agriculture Extension Executive                               | AGR/Q7602 | 6            |
| 6.       | Agriculture extension service provider                        | AGR/Q7601 | 4            |
| 7.       | Community Service Provider                                    | AGR/Q7802 | 4            |
|          | Agri Crop Production                                          |           |              |
| 8.       | Sugarcane Cultivator                                          | AGR/Q0203 | 4            |
| 9.       | Cotton Cultivator                                             | AGR/Q0202 | 4            |
| 10.      | Soyabean Cultivator                                           | AGR/Q0201 | 4            |
| 11.      | Pulses Cultivator                                             | AGR/Q0104 | 4            |
| 12.      | Maize Cultivator                                              | AGR/Q0103 | 4            |
| 13.      | Wheat Cultivator                                              | AGR/Q0102 | 4            |
| 14.      | Paddy Farmer                                                  | AGR/Q0101 | 4            |
| 15.      | Organic Grower                                                | AGR/Q1201 | 4            |
|          | Agri Entrepreneurship & Rural Enterprises                     |           |              |
| 16.      | Group Farming Practitioner                                    | AGR/Q7806 | 4            |
|          | Amenity Horticulture & Landscaping                            |           |              |
| 17.      | Assistant gardener                                            | AGR/Q0804 | 3            |
| 18.      | Gardener                                                      | AGR/Q0801 | 4            |
| 19.      | Nursery worker                                                | AGR/N0807 | 3            |
|          | Animal Husbandry                                              |           |              |
| 20.      | Animal Health Worker                                          | AGR/Q4804 | 3            |
| 21.      | Artificial Insemination Technician                            | AGR/Q4803 | 3            |
| 22.      | Veterinary Clinical Assistant                                 | AGR/Q4802 | 5            |
| 23.      | Veterinary Field Assistant                                    | AGR/Q4801 | 5            |
|          | Dairy Farm Management                                         |           |              |
| 24.      | Dairy Worker                                                  | AGR/Q4102 | 2            |
| 25.      | Dairy Farmer - Entrepreneur                                   | AGR/Q4101 | 4            |
|          | Farm Mechanization & Precision Farming                        |           |              |
| 26.      | Custom Hiring Service Provider                                | AGR/Q1112 | 5            |
| 27.      | Agriculture Machinery Repair and Maintenance Service Provider | AGR/Q1111 | 5            |
| 28.      | Farm Workshop/Service Manager                                 | AGR/Q1110 | 6            |
| 29.      | Farm Workshop Foreman/Supervisor                              | AGR/Q1109 | 5            |
| 30.      | Tractor Mechanic                                              | AGR/Q1108 | 4            |
| 31.      | Agriculture Machinery Demonstrator                            | AGR/Q1107 | 5            |

Continue…..2/-

| 32.   | Service and Maintenance Technician-Farm Machinery   | AGR/Q1106   | 4   |
|-------|-----------------------------------------------------|-------------|-----|
| 33.   | Operator-Reaper Thresher and Crop Residue Machinery | AGR/Q1105   | 4   |
| 34.   | Irrigation Service Technician                       | AGR/Q1104   | 4   |
| 35.   | Agriculture Machinery Operator                      | AGR/Q1103   | 4   |
| 36.   | Harvesting Machine Operator                         | AGR/Q1102   | 4   |
| 37.   | Tractor operator                                    | AGR/Q1101   | 4   |
| 38.   | Greenhouse Operator                                 | AGR/Q1003   | 3   |
| 39.   | Micro irrigation technician                         | AGR/Q1002   | 4   |
| 40.   | Green house fitter                                  | AGR/Q1001   | 4   |
| 41.   | Solar Pump Technician                               | AGR/Q6701   | 4   |
|       | Fisheries                                           |             |     |
| 42.   | Aquaculture Fabricator                              | AGR/Q5110   | 4   |
| 43.   | Feed technician                                     | AGR/Q5109   | 4   |
| 44.   | Aquarium Technician                                 | AGR/Q5108   | 4   |
| 45.   | Fisheries extension associate                       | AGR/Q5107   | 3   |
| 46.   | Fishing Equipment Technician (Electronics)          | AGR/Q5106   | 4   |
| 47.   | Fishing Gear Technician                             | AGR/Q5105   | 4   |
| 48.   | Fish Retailer                                       | AGR/Q5104   | 3   |
| 49.   | Fishing Boat Mechanic                               | AGR/Q5103   | 4   |
| 50.   | Fishing Boat Maintenance Worker                     | AGR/Q5102   | 3   |
| 51.   | Fishing Boat Deckhand                               | AGR/Q5101   | 4   |
| 52.   | Inland Capture Fisherman cum Primary Processor      | AGR/Q5003   | 4   |
| 53.   | Fishing Boat Driver                                 | AGR/Q5002   | 4   |
| 54.   | Marine capture fisherman cum Primary Processor      | AGR/Q5001   | 4   |
| 55.   | Hatchery Manager                                    | AGR/Q4912   | 6   |
| 56.   | Aquatic Animal Health Lab Assistant                 | AGR/Q4911   | 4   |
| 57.   | Ornamental Fish Technician                          | AGR/Q4910   | 4   |
| 58.   | Mariculture operator                                | AGR/Q4909   | 4   |
| 59.   | Fish Seed Grower                                    | AGR/Q4908   | 5   |
| 60.   | Crab farmer                                         | AGR/Q4907   | 4   |
| 61.   | Brackwishwater Aquaculture Farmer                   | AGR/Q4906   | 4   |
| 62.   | Freshwater Aquaculture Farmer                       | AGR/Q4905   | 4   |
| 63.   | Aquaculture worker                                  | AGR/Q4904   | 3   |
| 64.   | Aquaculture Technician                              | AGR/Q4903   | 5   |
| 65.   | Shrimp farmer                                       | AGR/Q4902   | 4   |
| 66.   | Hatchery Production worker                          | AGR/Q4901   | 3   |
| 67.   | Pearl culture technician                            | AGR/N4913   | 4   |
|       | Forestry & Agroforestry                             |             |     |
| 68.   | Bamboo Grower                                       | AGR/Q6101   | 4   |
|       | Other Allied                                        |             |     |
| 69.   | Mushroom Grower                                     | AGR/Q7803   | 4   |
| 70.   | Bare Foot Technician                                | AGR/Q7801   | 4   |
| 71.   | Beekeeper                                           | AGR/Q5301   | 4   |
| 72    | Sericulturist                                       | AGR/Q5201   | 4   |
| 73    | Vermicompost Producer                               | AGR/Q1203   | 4   |

Continue….3/-

| 74                        | Climate Change & Risk Mitigation Manager                                 | AGR/Q6501   | 7   |
|---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-----|
| Post-harvest Supply Chain | Management                                                               |             |     |
| 75                        | Packhouse Worker                                                         | AGR/Q7503   | 3   |
| 76                        | Warehouse Worker                                                         | AGR/Q7502   | 3   |
| 77                        | Supply Chain Field Assistant                                             | AGR/Q7501   | 4   |
|                           | Poultry Farm Management                                                  |             |     |
| 78                        | Chick sexing & grading technician                                        | AGR/Q4403   | 4   |
| 79                        | Hatchery operator                                                        | AGR/Q4402   | 3   |
| 80                        | Hatchery Incharge_Poultry                                                | AGR/Q4401   | 5   |
| 81                        | Layer farm worker                                                        | AGR/Q4307   | 3   |
| 82                        | Small poultry farmer                                                     | AGR/Q4306   | 4   |
| 83                        | Poultry feed, food safety and labelling supervisor                       | AGR/Q4305   | 5   |
| 84                        | Poultry shed designer                                                    | AGR/Q4304   | 6   |
| 85                        | Poultry farm manager                                                     | AGR/Q4303   | 7   |
| 86                        | Broiler Farm Worker                                                      | AGR/Q4302   | 3   |
| 87                        | Broiler Farm Supervisor                                                  | AGR/Q4301   | 5   |
|                           | Production Horticulture                                                  |             |     |
| 88                        | Floriculturist - Protected cultivation                                   | AGR/Q0702   | 4   |
| 89                        | Floriculturist - Open cultivation                                        | AGR/Q0701   | 4   |
| 90                        | Coriander Cultivator                                                     | AGR/Q0602   | 4   |
| 91                        | Chillies Cultivator                                                      | AGR/Q0601   | 4   |
| 92                        | Neera Technician                                                         | AGR/Q0505   | 3   |
| 93                        | Friends of Coconut Tree                                                  | AGR/Q0504   | 3   |
| 94                        | Coconut Grower                                                           | AGR/Q0503   | 4   |
| 95                        | Tea plantation worker                                                    | AGR/Q0502   | 2   |
| 96                        | Coffee plantation worker                                                 | AGR/Q0501   | 2   |
| 97                        | Tuber crop cultivator                                                    | AGR/Q0403   | 4   |
| 98                        | Solanaceous crop cultivator                                              | AGR/Q0402   | 4   |
| 99                        | Bulb crop cultivator                                                     | AGR/Q0401   | 4   |
| 100                       | Makhana Grower cum Processor (Options: Processing/ Products Preparation) | AGR/Q0306   | 4   |
| 101                       | Citrus fruit grower                                                      | AGR/Q0303   | 4   |
| 102                       | Mango grower                                                             | AGR/Q0302   | 4   |
| 103                       | Banana Farmer                                                            | AGR/Q0301   | 4   |
|                           | Seeds Industry                                                           |             |     |
| 104                       | Seed plant production supervisor                                         | AGR/Q7105   | 5   |
| 105                       | Seed processing plant technician                                         | AGR/Q7104   | 4   |
| 106                       | Seed analysis in charge                                                  | AGR/Q7103   | 5   |
| 107                       | Seed Processing Worker                                                   | AGR/Q7102   | 3   |
| 108                       | Quality Seed Grower                                                      | AGR/Q7101   | 4   |

Annexure - II

## Skill Training Courses Conducted by Agriculture Skill Council of India on Cereals, Pulses and Horticultural Crops (from 2014-15 to 2018-19 as on date)

| S.No.   | Job Role                   |   Training Courses (No.) |   Candidates Trained (No.) |
|---------|----------------------------|--------------------------|----------------------------|
| 1.      | Banana Farmer              |                      482 |                      14499 |
| 2.      | Citrus fruit Grower        |                        5 |                        154 |
| 3.      | Mango Grower               |                       68 |                       2057 |
| 4.      | Coconut Grower             |                        9 |                        256 |
| 5.      | Bamboo Grower              |                       22 |                        684 |
| 6.      | Mushroom Grower            |                       81 |                       2444 |
| 7.      | Chillies Cultivator        |                       13 |                        403 |
| 8.      | Coriander Cultivator       |                        1 |                         20 |
| 9.      | Bulb Crop Cultivator       |                       12 |                        345 |
| 10.     | Solanaeous Crop Cultivator |                      657 |                      19721 |
| 11.     | Tuber Crop Cultivator      |                      138 |                       4150 |
| 12.     | Paddy farmer               |                      945 |                      28378 |
| 13.     | Wheat Cultivator           |                       75 |                       2257 |
| 14.     | Maize Cultivator           |                       51 |                       1520 |
| 15.     | Pulses Cultivator          |                      180 |                       5388 |
| 16.     | Soybean Cultivator         |                      224 |                       6716 |
| 17.     | Sugarcane Cultivator       |                       41 |                       1217 |
|         | Total                      |                     3004 |                      90209 |

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