Assessment Of Entrepreneurship Development Through Attracting And Retaining Youth In Agriculture (ARYA)

Abstract

Declining rural economy and increasing migration of rural youth are affecting the growth of India’s economy. To encourage rural youths in agriculture Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) had initiated a programme on Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA) through selected Krishi Vigyan Kendras of the country. The programme was also carried out through nine KVKs on Zone V located in Odisha and West Bengal. It has been observed in a study that rural youths are eager towards entrepreneurship development but lack of technical expertise and financial constraints are preventing them. Under ARYA potential enterprises of the districts were identified and on and off campus trainings were provided. After continuing the project for three years (2019-20 to 2021-22) through nine KVKs, an assessment on income improvement, employment generation and socio-economic status was carried out with a sample size of 240 ARYA beneficiaries. The result revealed that 42 enterprising units, 29 groups and 223 enterprises were established. 272 nos. of employment were also generated through 130 successfully running enterprises. Among the enterprises poultry provided highest average income followed by mushroom, fishery, apiary, horticulture nursery, goatery, vermicompost and scientific lac cultivation.