Lok Sabha Question No. 1555 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-29
Subject: Promoting Farming as a viable Career Option among Youth
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Vishaldada Prakashbapu Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1555

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29 TH  JULY, 2025

## PROMOTING FARMING AS A VIABLE CAREER OPTION AMONG YOUTH

1555. SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the constant decline in the number of farmers in the country, if so, the details of the decline over the past decade and the key factors contributing to it;
- (b) the initiatives taken by the Government to promote farming as a viable career option among youth, including programs in schools and colleges;
- (c) the measures being implemented to increase per farmer income and make agriculture more financially attractive for the younger generation; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  introduced  any  skill  development,  technological advancements or financial incentives to encourage youth participation in agriculture and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a): No. The data on exact number of farmers is not maintained Centrally. However, as per the Agriculture Census conducted by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Number of operational holdings* based on previously conducted three agriculture censuses on quinquennial basis, are given as below:

|   S. No. | Agriculture Census   |   Number of Operational Holdings* (in Crore) |
|----------|----------------------|----------------------------------------------|
|        1 | 2005-06              |                                        12.92 |
|        2 | 2010-11              |                                        13.83 |
|        3 | 2015-16              |                                        14.65 |

(b) to (d): Agriculture is a State subject and Government of India supports the efforts of States through appropriate policy measures, budgetary allocation and various schemes/ programmes. The various schemes/ programmes of the Government of India are meant for  the  welfare of farmers and to attract younger generation in increasing production, remunerative returns and income support to farmers. The Major schemes/programmes initiated by DA&FW to enhance overall income of farmers and remunerative returns in the agriculture sector are as under:-

1. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
2. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY)
3.  Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bima  Yojana  (PMFBY)/  Restructured  Weather  Based  Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS)
4. Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)
5. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
6. Formation and Promotion of 10,000 new Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs)
7. National Bee Keeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)
8. Namo Drone Didi
9. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)
10. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)
11. Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises' (Agri SURE)
12. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
13. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)
14. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
15. Soil Health & Fertility (SH&F)
16. Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
17. Agroforestry
18. Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)
19. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)
20. Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP)
21. National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM)
22. Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (ISAM)
23. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
24. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oil Palm
25. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oilseeds
26. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region
27. Digital Agriculture Mission
28. National Bamboo Mission

Government has taken various initiatives to promote farming as a viable career option for youth, among which the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has set  up  731  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  in  the  rural  districts  of  the  country  for dissemination of new technologies of agriculture and allied sectors through technology assessment, demonstration and capacity development among the extension functionaries  and  the  farmers  of  the  concerned  district.  The  KVKs  perform  following activities for the purpose:

- (a)  on-farm testing to identify the location specificity of technology under various farming systems;
- (b)  frontline demonstration to establish the production potential of improved agricultural technologies on the farmers' fields;
- (c)  capacity development of extension functionaries and farmers for knowledge and skill up gradation;
- (d)  production  of  quality seeds, planting  materials  and  other technology  inputs for the farmers;
- (e)  extension activities to develop awareness of improved agricultural technology among the farmers.

Besides, 100 KVKs of the country are implementing project namely Attracting and Retaining  Youth  in  Agriculture  (ARYA)  for  retaining  younger  generations  of  farming families into the  sector, These  KVKs organize  skill  development  programmes for the youth of rural areas to take up various enterprises related to agriculture and allied sectors like, mushroom production, fruits and vegetable processing units, horticulture nursery, protected  cultivation,  fish  farming,  poultry,  goat  farming,  piggery,  duck  farming,  bee keeping, vermicomposting, etc

The Government is implementing Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY) with the objective to  impart short  term skill  training  (seven  days  duration)  to  rural  youths  and farmers in agriculture and allied sectors for upgradation of their knowledge and skills and promote wage/self employment in rural areas. The component aims at providing short duration skill based training programs to rural youth including women farmers on agribased vocational areas for creating a pool of skilled manpower.  Recently, the STRY programme has been subsumed under Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) cafeteria.

A  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  'Support  to  State  Extension  Programs  for Extension Reforms' (ATMA) is being implemented in 740 districts of 28 states & 5 UTs in the country. The scheme promote decentralized and farmer-friendly extension system in the country. The objective of the Scheme is to support State Government's efforts and to  make  available  latest  agricultural  technologies  and  good  agricultural  practices  in different thematic areas of agriculture and allied to farmers through different extension activities viz; Farmers Training, Demonstrations, Exposure Visits, Kisan Mela, Mobilization of Farmers Groups and organizing Farm Schools etc.

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