Lok Sabha Question No. 215 (STARRED), answered on 2024-08-06
Subject: Employment Opportunities in Agriculture Sector
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Maddila Gurumoorthy

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 215

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH  AUGUST, 2024

## EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR

*215.   SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:

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

(a) whether the Government has any plans to formulate an Industrial policy or manufacturing strategy that involves the collaboration of higher educational institutions to create employment opportunities in primary sectors like agriculture, particularly in State like Andhra Pradesh;

(b)  if so, the details thereof; and

(c)   the details of initiatives taken by the Government to attract educated researchers towards the  agricultural  sector  through  skill  enhancement  programs,  ensuring  that  their  expertise contribute  meaningfully  to  the  growth  and  technological  advancements  in  the  agricultural domain?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)

(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the house.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 215  REGARDING 'EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR' FOR REPLY ON 6 TH  August, 2024.

(a) to (c): The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has implemented several initiatives under the National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) (2018-2024) to enhance quality of education and generate employment in the agricultural sector by providing various facilities to students and  faculty  of  62  Agricultural  Universities  (AUs)  across  the  country,  including  Acharya  N.G.  Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.

NAHEP has provided international training to 2,701 students and 1,073 faculty members from  48  AUs.  They  partnered  with  179  top  foreign  institutions  in  37  countries  to  cover  831 emerging areas in agriculture and related fields, enhancing global perspective and advanced knowledge among participants.

Nationally, AUs have conducted over 12,000 trainings aimed at enhancing both technical and interpersonal skills among students. The focus areas of these trainings include cutting-edge topics such as precision farming, Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics in agriculture, artificial intelligence  and  machine  learning  (AI/ML),  advanced  agriculture  and  horticulture  techniques, value  addition  techniques,  hydroponics  and  aeroponics,  sustainable  agriculture,  and  plant breeding and genetics.

These initiatives have greatly improved students' technical skills and managerial abilities, giving them the business knowledge needed for entrepreneurship. Training in business analytics, foreign  languages,  communication  skills,  and  remedial  courses  has  enriched  their  learning experience. Together, these programs have made students well-prepared and market-ready for the evolving agricultural sector.

During the project period, 3,700 guest lectures on entrepreneurship were organized, links established  with  over  700  organizations,  and  around  3,500  national  training  sessions  and seminars were conducted to boost students' scientific entrepreneurship and research skills.

Additionally, over 500 pilot courses on emerging agricultural areas and skill enhancements have been introduced.

Overall, NAHEP benefited approximately 514,822 participants.

## Benefits of NAHEP to Andhra Pradesh

In the context of Andhra  Pradesh, NAHEP  has  facilitated international training programmes for 140 students of ANGRAU, Guntur in countries like USA, Finland, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Taiwan. Additionally, 24 faculty members participated in international trainings at reputed institutions in USA, Australia, and Thailand.

The  ANGRAU,  Guntur  also  collaborated  with  national  training  institutions  to  enhance student  skills  through  personality  development  programmes,  English  and  foreign  language classes, entrepreneurship programs, and skill development programs in advanced technologies such as drones, blockchain, IoT, robotics, and artificial intelligence. During the project period, 81 programmes were conducted, benefiting 9,724 students. Furthermore,  under  NAHEP,  two  national  trainings  have  been  organized  on  Natural Farming for 79 faculty members and conducted 85 workshops, webinars, seminars, and lecture series with eminent scientists and professors, benefiting 30,334 participants of the University. The  project  also  facilitated  the  creation  of  two  central  instrumentation  facilities,  seven smart  and  virtual  classrooms,  seven  organic  waste  composters,  five  language  labs,  and upgraded libraries, enhancing the teaching, learning, and research experiences for faculty and students of ANGRAU. Overall,  NAHEP  activities,  including  infrastructure  development,  skill-based  programs, and international training, have significantly improved the academic, research excellence and employment generation in agricultural sector, providing long-lasting benefits to the beneficiaries and attract educated researchers towards the agricultural sector.

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