Raichur (Karnataka) : Skill development certificate course on production and protection aspects of major agricultural and horticultural crops for unemployed rural youths is launched in University of Agricultural University, Raichur (UAS-R). The programme is introduced jointly by UAS-R, PI Foundation and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Raichur. Forty students from 10 districts, most of whom are drop-outs, have enrolled for the first batch.
G.K. Venugopal, vice-president, PI Industries, Gurgaon, Haryana, who inaugurated the course at KVK conference hall in the UAS-R campus advised the students not to focus merely on securing a job after completing the course, but think on utilizing the skills and knowledge in farming activities of their own.
“It is true that the certificate programme was a great success in other States as all the candidates got good placements in reputed agro companies. It does not necessarily mean that you all do the same. At least some of you who have cultivable lands should take up agriculture as your profession,” he said.
“As per an estimate, a million people die of ailments caused by malnutrition and starvation every year worldwide. Considering the shrinking cultivable lands on account of rapid urbanization and population growth, starvation deaths may increase in future. Increasing food-grain production with limited land and water resources using newer technologies is the only way to bridge the widening gap between demand and supply,” he said.
G. Madan Mohan, general manager, PI Industries, advised the students to gain knowledge and skills in the course as mere obtaining a certificate would not render them a good job.
“Out of 2,000 people who have applied for the course, only you 40 are selected. It means that you need competence to achieve. You will be successful only when you can effectively transfer the knowledge you learn here to farming community,” he said.
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