Brainstorming Session on Mainstreaming Agricultural Curriculum in School Education organized

The role of agriculture is paramount and will expand: Shri Narendra Singh Tomar

14th June, 2022, New Delhi

“The Government of India is making concerted efforts to include Agriculture in the School Curriculums”, said Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. Shri Tomar was addressing the inaugural session of the Brainstorming Session on “Mainstreaming Agricultural Curriculum in School Education” held here at National Agricultural Science Centre Complex, New Delhi today.

The Union Minister accentuated that being one of the most important fields for the country, human resources depend on agriculture for its livelihood. “The ICAR has played a pivotal role in including the technologies for strengthening the agriculture which has helped to transform the agriculture into an enterprise”, stressed Shri Tomar. Agriculture is the priority and strength of the country’s economy. In adverse conditions also the agriculture acts as a backbone of the Indian economy. Shri Tomar applauded the farmers and agricultural scientists for their untiring contributions in advancing the agriculture during the COVID-19 Pandemic period also. The Union Minister emphasized on the Government of India’s initiative through the New Education Policy - 2020 for mainstreaming the agricultural education at the School and Higher Education levels.

The meeting aims to fulfil the requirement under the NEP - 2020 which focuses on redesigning the agricultural education system with a greater push towards developing professional courses including the agricultural science to impart better education. The Brainstorming Session would contribute towards the development of policy and pathway to introduce Agriculture as a Subject in Course Curriculum and provide the option for students to explore a career in the various arenas of agriculture.

Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) Director General (ICAR) chaired the inaugural session.

Delivering the welcome address, Dr. R.C. Agrawal, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Education), ICAR briefed about the current status of the Agricultural Education in the country and the need for taking it at the School level. He emphasized on learning with the learning modules through the ICAR Agricultural Universities System.

Dr. Anita Nuna, Professor & Head (Department of Curriculum Studies), National Council of Educational Research & Training, New Delhi accentuated that apart from the books, there are many other ways to gain knowledge. “The NEP - 2020 will enable the overall development of school students besides just providing them with the bookish knowledge. It will also equip the students to convert the knowledge to action”, stressed Dr. Nuna.

Dr. (Smt.) Pankaj Mittal, General Secretary, Association of India Universities, New Delhi stressed on creating awareness about agriculture amongst the students and thereby, enabling them to respect the invincible contributions of the farmers in the societal development.

Dr. Rajender Prasad, Director, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, New Delhi proposed the vote of thanks.

The Experts from the ICAR, NCERT, CBSE along with the various School Principals and Teachers participated and deliberated on the need & process for the introduction of Agriculture as a Subject in the School Curriculum.

(Source: ICAR-Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture, New Delhi)