Valedictory session of two days Workshop (21-22 October,2019) : Youth as torch-bearers of business-oriented agriculture in South India on 22-10-2019 at University Auditorium PJTSAU, Hyderabad

The youth could be attracted towards the farming sector only if it is made more remunerative and profitable, Vice-Chairman of Telangana State Planning Board B. Vinod Kumar said on 22-10-2019. Speaking at the valedictory session of the two-day workshop on ‘Youth as torch-bearers of business-oriented agriculture in South India’, he stated that Telangana was grossly neglected in making agriculture sustainable and remunerative over the last six decades in spite of having several good soil types and water resources in the form of Godavari and Krishna rivers flowing through the State. The Telangana government had been implementing several agriculture-oriented and farmer-centric programmes for the last five years, including revival of minor irrigation tanks and utilisation of river waters by taking up new/redesigned irrigation projects, Mr. Vinod Kumar said. Expressing hope that the dream of providing irrigation facility to one crore acres soon, the Planning Board Vice-Chairman said the major challenge in the coming years would to provide proper marketing facilities to huge production. He suggested that such meets were needed at the district level too to inspire the youth to take to agriculture by explaining to them about the ocean of opportunities in value addition, processing and marketing of farm production. Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi said Telangana had made rapid strides in production of paddy during the last five years and attributed provision of irrigation facilities and suitable weather for it. He suggested that at least 10% to 15% of the agriculture graduates should grow as agri entrepreneurs. He also suggested to the administration of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University to establish an agri-hub on the lines of T-Hub and said that providing proper inputs, reducing production costs and increasing productivity would make agriculture profitable. Chairman of Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences R.S. Paroda favoured introduction of syllabus on agriculture from school level and of a short-term vocational course in agriculture and allied areas along with launching a mission on youth in agriculture.