A programme called ‘Youthscape’ was organized in Ayodhya to promote entrepreneurship in the agriculture sector. The event, held at Acharya Narendra Dev Agricultural University, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, was attended by agricultural experts, agricultural scientists, entrepreneurs, teachers and agricultural students from across the country. 

The programme, organized on the theme ‘Agripreneurship’, was aimed at viewing farming as a viable career choice and entrepreneurship and encouraging the youth in it. Various speakers spoke on the issue.

Inaugurating the event, Prof Brijendra Singh, vice-chancellor, Acharya Narendra Dev Agricultural University, had said: “In a rapidly changing world, farming needs to be looked at in a professional manner rather than the traditional way. This area is forever open to possibilities and experimentation, the more you work and innovate, the more you will benefit in this field.”

He advised the students of the university to focus on innovation activities at the university campus itself. He said that students should continue to work in small groups at the university campus so that they can be ready for the future. He assured all possible help from the university administration. 

Prof. Prahlad Seth, senior scientist and founder of Bio-Tech Park, Lucknow, said that if any youth has a better plan for innovation in the agriculture sector, he came to his institution with full preparedness. His institution will help the deserving candidate both economically and technologically. 

The chief organizer of the programme, cofounder of Medha, Byomkesh Mishra, said that entrepreneurship is not a goal but an ever-ongoing journey. He said that in order to succeed in farming one has too also look towards marketing besides looking after its production activities, so as to provide maximum benefit to the farmers in the value chain. 

He exemplified saying that since the big hotels buy red and yellow capsicum at a higher price, farmers must also produce such products besides traditional crops. He stressed the need to view farming as a food system.

The regional head of NABARD, Parmeshwar Lal Poddar, had spoken during the programme that farmers and youth in the agriculture sector should take pride in calling themselves farmers, agricultural experts. He advised the youth not to worry about their future but to continue to strive. He enumerated several government schemes that can help youth to build a better future in the agriculture sector. 

The incubation manager of ISEED-IRMA, Shubha Khadke, discussed with the youth the difficulties faced by the agripreneurship. She said, “The journey of agripreneurship is quite challenging. But if you have worked properly on your plan, you will also enjoy this journey.”

The regional head of the Aryvarat Bank, DP Singh, said that the youth should devote themselves fully to their project without bringing any negative thoughts to mind, they will definitely succeed. He told the youth about a number of government loan schemes that can help the youth to promote their agripreneurship.

Fruit farmers shared with the youth their experience

In the last session of the programme, the youth had the opportunity to communicate with the agripreneurs who have been successful in the field of farming and are doing far better than many entrepreneurs. Successful fish farmer, Pervez Khan said that currently, the youth of Uttar Pradesh can chart out successful careers in fisheries as thousands of tonnes of fish is being sourced from states like Jharkhand and Karnataka in the state. 

He said that should someone fail, it does not mean that his plan has failed, but that the person did not work properly on his plan. A successful banana farmer from Mau in Uttar Pradesh and CEO of Nay Daur Agro, Dr Manish Rai, expressed his happiness over the interaction with the youth. He said that it was a great experience because he could communicate with students of agriculture and people who had the potential to do something good in the area.

The students of the Agricultural University were delighted to participate in the event on ‘Agripreneurship’. An MSc student, Vivek Singh said: “This is a commendable initiative of the university administration and Medha which gave us the opportunity, this early in life, to listen to the experiences of people who have fought with adversity to become a success in the agriculture sector. It is inspiring for us.”

Rahul Maurya, a B.Sc. student said: “I want to make a career in the field of nursery farming after graduating. I even had a plan for it in my mind, which needed improvement. In today’s programme, I have tried to further develop this scheme by talking to the expert. This dialogue has given me a lot of confidence and hope that I can do something good in the future.”

During the event, the students of the university also made an exhibition of some prototypes and models related to integrated farming, bio-gas, organic farming and water conservation, which were much appreciated by the agriculture experts.