IRise Programme Launched at ICAR-KVK (CISH), Malda to Empower Rural Youth as Agri-Entrepreneurs and Agro-Ambassadors

21 September 2026, Malda

A new chapter in youth-led agricultural transformation was initiated today with the inauguration of the 23-day IRise (Inculcating Rural India Skill Enhancement) Skill Development Programme at ICAR-KVK (CISH), Malda, under the jurisdiction of ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata. The initiative aims to equip rural youth with practical skills, entrepreneurial capabilities and industry exposure, enabling them to transform agricultural opportunities into sustainable livelihoods and enterprises.

Delivering the inaugural address virtually, Dr Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata, highlighted IRise as a CSR-driven transformative initiative that is creating a new generation of skilled, confident and future-ready rural youth. He emphasized that the programme goes beyond conventional skill training by integrating hands-on learning, field exposure and industry-linked internships to convert aspirations into employability and entrepreneurship.

Dr Dey underlined that the partnership between the Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Syngenta Foundation India demonstrates the potential of an effective public–private partnership (PPP) to create scalable models of rural empowerment and agricultural transformation. He noted that such initiatives can play an important role in advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 by creating opportunities for rural youth at the grassroots level.

A major thrust of the IRise programme is to develop participants into agri-entrepreneurs with practical knowledge in diversified livelihood enterprises, including mushroom cultivation, nursery management, poultry farming, vermicomposting and scientific gardening. The programme seeks to help young participants identify viable local opportunities, develop enterprise-oriented skills and build confidence to pursue self-employment and income-generating activities.

A distinctive feature of IRise is its focus on developing participants as “Agro-Ambassadors”—young rural change agents who can help bridge the gap between farmers, agricultural technologies, institutions and industry. Through structured training and field-based exposure, the initiative aims to position rural Gen Z as active contributors to agricultural technology dissemination, innovation and entrepreneurship.

The programme also represents an important model of institution–industry convergence, demonstrating how the collective efforts of Krishi Vigyan Kendras and the corporate sector can strengthen rural livelihoods, promote youth entrepreneurship and contribute to a more resilient and technology-enabled agricultural ecosystem.

The inaugural programme witnessed the participation of 65 young agri-entrepreneurial aspirants aged 18–35 years from Malda and adjoining districts.

With its integrated focus on skills, enterprise development, field exposure and industry linkages, IRise is poised to create a strong pathway for rural youth to become job creators, technology disseminators and grassroots leaders in agriculture, contributing to a more empowered and self-reliant rural India.

(Source: ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata)