Online Collaborative Training at ICAR - Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research, Bharatpur inaugurated

22nd August, 2021, Bharatpur

ICAR- Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research, Bharatpur, organized five-day workshop on “Online Collaborative Training on Agri based Technological Interventions for Entrepreneurship Development in Semi-Arid Zone” was inaugurated here today.

The event is sponsored by National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad (Telangana), Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India.

The Chief Guest & Key Speaker, Dr S N Saxena, Director, ICAR-National Research Centre on Seed Spices (NRCSS), Ajmer emphasized to promote the linkages for increasing the producer’s share in the consumer rupee. He complimented the efforts of ICAR-DRMR and MANAGE, Hyderabad for organizing capacity building programs to highlight the agri-prenurship opportunities in semi-arid areas which is need of the hour. He urged that agricultural production mainly food items might be a good option for the development of entrepreneurship in rural areas.

In his Opening remarks, Dr AK Sharma, Principal Scientist & Head, Technology Assessment and Dissemination Section, ICAR-DRMR, Bharatpur briefed about the technological interventions available at the Institute and further scope of agribusiness sector for livelihood security and earning foreign exchange. He briefed about the importance of rapeseed cultivation in the context of semi-arid areas where farmer depend on rainfed farming for their livelihood.

Dr B Renuka Rani, Deputy Director, Natural Resource Management, National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad briefed about the scope of new platforms, institutional arrangements (FPOs, SHGs and JLGs) and activities in creating employment opportunities which also helpful in minimizing the migration problem. She suggested for value addition activities through entrepreneurship development.  Keeping in view of global competition, she said that Off-farm sectors like agro-processing & value addition, food manufacturing and other critical farm support services, reduction in post-harvest losses and promote agri-business may play important role to enhance income and generate employment in rural sector.

A total of 128 officials/Scientists/Assistant Professors / CEO / Chairpersons / Secretary / Students /Research Scholars from the 53 organizations including State Agricultural University, Farmers’ Producer Organization, federations, NGOs, etc. have registered under the workshop.

This program will be helpful to instill the agriculture technology foresight among extension functionaries for assisting new entrepreneurs in commercial activities conducted both on-farm as well as off-farm.

 (Source: ICAR-DRMR, Bharatpur)