Youth trained in agri-business to act as consultants for farmers

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 1

A district-level workshop on Agriclinics and Agribusiness centres (ACABC) scheme was held at the College of Agriculture, PAU, by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Punjab Regional Office.

Parveen Bhatia, Assistant General Manager, (District development) in his inaugural speech said the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, in association with NABARD has launched a unique programme to adopt better methods of farming to each and every farmer across the country.

The programme aims to tap the expertise available in the large pool of agriculture graduates. Irrespective of whether one is a fresh graduate or not, or whether one is currently employed or not, one can set up his own Agriclinic or Agribusiness centre and offer professional extension services to innumerable farmers.

“Committed to the programme, the government is now also providing start-up training to graduates in agriculture, or any subject allied to agriculture such as horticulture, sericulture, veterinary sciences, forestry, dairy, poultry farming, and fisheries. Those completing the training can apply for special start-up loans for venture. Agriculture graduates can earn money and prestige by becoming a consultant to farmers.”

He also said, “Agribusiness centres would provide paid services for enhancement of agriculture production and income of farmers. Centres would need to advise farmers on crop selection, best farm practices, post-harvest value-added options, key agricultural information (including perhaps even Internet-based weather forecast), price trends, market news, risk mitigation and crop insurance, credit and input access, as well as critical sanitary and phyto-sanitary considerations, which the farmers have to keep in mind. It emerged out in discussions that free training is provided to set up agriclinic or agribusiness Centre,” he said.

As an integral part of this nationwide initiative, specialised training will be provided to agriculture graduates interested in setting up such a centre.