Lok Sabha Question No. 2971 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-18
Subject: Employment Opportunities in Agriculture Sector
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Ajay Bhatt

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK S A B H A UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2971

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  MARCH, 2025

## EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR

## 2971. SHRI AJAY BHATT

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to make any industrial policy or manufacturing action plan which aims to promote the participation of higher educational institutions in generating employment opportunities in primary sectors like agriculture particularly in the State of Uttarakhand;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of the initiatives taken by the Government to attract educated research scholars to agriculture through skill development programmes so as to ensure that their expertise can contribute meaningfully to the development and technological progress in the agriculture sector?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

to (c): The Government is implementing various programmes which aims to promote the participation of higher educational institutions in generating employment opportunities in primary sectors like agriculture, across the country including Uttarakhand.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is implementing a programme in undergraduate curriculum of higher education in agriculture and allied subjects namely, 'Student  READY'  (Rural  Entrepreneurship  Awareness  Development  Yojna),  since 2016-17  in  all  Agricultural  Universities  (AUs).    It  is  a  well-structured  one-year programme which includes following components designed to provide the desired skills to  all  agricultural  students to  develop their  entrepreneurial  skills  for  establishment of their own enterprises in the field of agriculture and allied sectors for better employment as well as for the development and technological progress in the agriculture sector. The five components of the Student READY programme are:

- i.  Experiential Learning - Business Mode
- ii.  Experiential Learning - Hands-on-Training (Skill Development)
- iii. Rural Awareness Work Experience (RAWE)
- iv. In Plant Training/ Industrial attachment/ Internship
- v.  Students Projects

Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres (AC&ABC) programme, since 2002, with the main objective to promote involvement of trained graduates in agriculture and aliied subjects in providing advisory and extension services to the farmers in agriculture and allied areas through agriventures established as self-employment ventures. Training is imparted by National Institute  of  Extension  Management  (MANAGE),  Hyderabad  through  selected  Nodal Training Institutes. In the State of Uttarakhand, so far, 608 candidates have been trained of which 212 candidates have established their ventures and are giving services to the farmers.

The Department of Agriculture & Farmers'  Welfare (DA&FW), Government of India is implementing 'Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development' programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) from 2018-19 onwards with an objective to promote  innovation  and  agri-entrepreneurship  by  providing  financial  support  and nurturing an incubation ecosystem in the country. This Department has appointed five Knowledge  Partners (KPs)  and  twenty-four  RKVY  Agribusiness  Incubators  (R-ABIs) from across the country for implementation assistance and incubation of startups under this programme. Start-ups are taking projects in various field of agriculture and allied sectors like Precision agriculture including applications of sensor, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Information & Communication Technology (ICT), & drone, Farm Mechanization, Post-Harvest, Food Technology & Value addition, Supply Chain and  Agriculture  logistics  &  agriculture  inputs,  Waste  to  Wealth  &  Green  Energy  in Agriculture & Organic Farming, Allied Sectors etc.

The Government of Uttarakhand is promoting participation of higher educational institutions  in  generating  employment  opportunities  in  the  primary  sector,  including agriculture through the following programmes.

- i.  Uttarakhand State Startup Policy-2023

The policy aims to support startups, including those in the agriculture sector, by providing various  benefits such as monthly  allowances, marketing assistance, patent fees reimbursement, and exemption from stamp duty.

- ii.  Uttarakhand offers investment opportunities in various sectors, including agriculture, with incentives such as:
2.  Capital  Grant:  Up  to  50%  of  the  capital  cost  for  setting  up  or  scaling  up incubators.
3.  Operating Expenses: Rs. 2 lakhs per year for incubators.
4.  Tax Benefits: Exemption from stamp duty and reimbursement of SGST. These  initiatives  demonstrate  the  state  government's  efforts  to  promote

entrepreneurship, innovation, and employment  opportunities in various sectors, including agriculture.

- iii.  The  government  of  Uttarakhand  has  launched  several  initiatives  to  attract educated research scholars to the agriculture sector through skill development programs:
2.  Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry: Established in 2011, this university  offers  various  courses,  including  certificate-level  programs,  to promote research and development in agriculture and horticulture.
3.  Uttarakhand Council for Biotechnology (UCB): Conducts training programs in biotechnology, including plant tissue culture, molecular biology, and genetic engineering, to equip students with skills relevant to the agriculture sector.
4.  "Skills  Acquisition  and  Knowledge  Awareness  for  Livelihood  Promotion' (SANKALP)  project  of  Ministry  of  Skill  Development  &  Entrepreneurship, Government of India, provides technical support to the Directorate of Training &  Employment,  Government  of  Uttarakhand  in  planning,  development, monitoring, and coordination of skill development activities in various sectors including agriculture.

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