Residential Training Programme for rural youth and farmers on “Modern Agriculture and Agri Business” at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Warangal

Regional Agricultural Research Station, Warangal in association with Cornell Sathguru Foundation for Development conducted Residential Training Programme for rural youth and farmers on “Modern Agriculture and Agri Business” from 18-01-2022 to 22-01-2022. The participants of this Training Programme are 50 rural youth and farmers of erstwhile Warangal district. It is envisioned that this program will ignite interest among youth in agriculture and enable them to see it as a profession attractive both economically and intellectually. Dr.R.Uma Reddy, Associate Director of research, RARS, Warangal as a Chief Guest of the function expressed that this initiative will increase more skilled work force and improve the opportunities for farmers in agriculture, focus on value added products, agri enterprises and earn additional income through allied sectors. Dr.R.Uma Reddy motivated the farmers and suggested to maintain soil health inorder to continue the farming by our successive generations. Smt. Hemalatha, Director of Cornell Sathguru Foundation for Development (CSFD) addressing the gathering said that CSFD is a non profit foundation promoted jointly by Cornell University, USA and Sathguru, India. She emphasized that CSFD brings in expertise from diverse fields and institutions like Cornell University and state agriculture universities to advance technology, innovation and agribusiness in India. She also elaborated the capacity building and other farmer service programmes of the foundation. Dr.M.Balram, Associate Dean, Agricultural College, Warangal opined that this skill oriented Training Programme would definitely turn the rural youth into entrepreneurs. Coordinator of the Training Programme, Dr.B.Anil Kumar, Senior Scientist, DAATTC, Warangal informed that this Training Programme covered 4 modules viz., Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Hushandry and Agri business. Youth and farmers were trained through classroom lectures, experiential learning and exposure visits. Exposure visits to Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Veterinary),Mamnoor; Seed Processing units, Centre of Excellence- Fruits, Mulugu; Centre of Excellence- Flowers and Vegetables, Jeedimetla; Mulkanoor Cooperative Dairy increased the confidence levels in the youth to become entrepreneur. Mr.P.Shiva, Course Coordinator and Scientist (Economics) at RARS, Warangal said that the Training Programme consisted of guest lectures by faculty of PJTSAU and PVNRTVU apart from field visits and Demo unit visits of the district and outside the district. Pre Evaluation Test on the first day before to the beginning of the Training Programme and Post Evaluation Test on the last day of the Training programme was conducted and the skills and knowledge gained by the farmers were assessed.