Parliament Question: Skill Development among Farmers

O.I.H GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 340 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12TH AUGUST, 2025 SKILL DEVELOPMENT AMONG FARMERS * 340 SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी be pleased to state: (a) the details of the schemes being implemented by the Government to promote skill development among farmers in agriculture and allied sectors particularly in Bihar; (b) the steps taken by the Government to provide skill training to farmers engaged in allied sectors like horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and bee-keeping in Bihar; (c) the number of training programmes organised for these sectors and the number of farmers trained thereunder during the last two years in Bihar; (d) the extent to which these initiatives have helped in increasing agricultural productivity and the income of farmers; (e) whether there is any plan to incorporate modern technology and innovations in the said training programmes and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN) (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 340 FOR 12TH AUGUST, 2025 REGARDING SKILL DEVELOPMENT AMONG FARMERS: (a) & (b): The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing the following schemes and programmes aimed to promote skill development among farmers in agriculture and allied sectors across the country including Bihar. The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing Centrally Sponsored programme ‘Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms’ popularly known as Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) across the country. The scheme promotes decentralized farmer-friendly Extension system in the country with an objective to support State Government’s efforts to revitalize the extension system and making available the latest agricultural technologies and good agricultural practices in different thematic areas of agriculture and allied areas to farmers, farm women and youth, through various interventions like Farmers Training, Demonstrations, Exposure Visits, Kisan Melas etc. Presently, the scheme is being implemented in 740 districts of 28 States (including all 38 districts of Bihar) & 5 Union Territories (UTs) in the country. The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is running Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in different States of the Country, to serve as single window agricultural knowledge, resource and capacity development centres with mandate of technology assessment and demonstration for its use and capacity building. As part of its activities, the KVKs are imparting training to the farmers, farmwomen and rural youths on different aspects of agriculture and allied sectors (Crop Production, Horticulture, Soil Health and Fertility Management, Livestock Production and Management, Home Science/Women empowerment, Agricultural Engineering, Plant Protection, Fisheries, Production of Inputs at site, Agro forestry etc.) for their capacity building. The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY) with the objective to impart short term skill training (7 days duration) to rural youths and farmers in agriculture and allied sectors for upgradation of their knowledge and skills and promote wage/self employment in rural areas. The component aims at providing short duration skill based training programs to rural youth including women farmers on agri-based vocational areas for creating a pool of skilled manpower. The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing ‘Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization’ (SMAM) through Four Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes (FMTTIs) located at Budni (Madhya Pradesh), Hissar (Haryana), Geraldine (Andhra Pradesh), and Biswanath Chariali (Assam), in the country for imparting skill development training courses to different categories of beneficiaries like farmers, technicians, under graduate engineers, entrepreneurs on selection, operation, repair and maintenance, energy conservation and management of agricultural equipments. The Ministry has approved Central Sector Scheme 'Namo Drone Didi' for providing drones to the women Self Help Groups (SHGs) which aims to provide training to selected women and provide drones to women SHGs for providing on rental services to farmers for agriculture purpose (application of fertilizers and pesticides).The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, has launched National Skill Development Mission, under which the DA&FW has been operationalizing skill training courses of minimum 200 hours duration for rural youth and farmers as per the approved Qualification Packs developed by Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI) in the areas of agriculture and allied sectors. The key skill programmes are conducted under the programme Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). The scheme covers multiple sectors, including agriculture and allied activities, to ensure comprehensive skill enhancement aligned with local economic needs. Bihar State Government is implementing Bihar Skill Development Mission (BSDM) though State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (SAMETI) known as Bihar Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (BAMETI), to promote skill development among farmers in agriculture and allied sectors. BAMETI is organizing skill training programs for farmers engaged in allied sectors such as horticulture and beekeeping through Skill Training Centres established at Agricultural Universities, Agricultural Colleges, Research Centres, Research Institutes, KVKs, and ATMA, following the guidelines of National Skill development Council (NSDC) and BSDM. Exposure visits, on-farm demonstrations and hands-on training is provided to the farmers. Under ATMA program skill training is imparted to farmers in agriculture and allied sectors. (c): The number of training programmes organised and the number of farmers trained during the last two years are detailed below: Sl. Sector Number of Training programmes Number of Farmers Trained No. Organised during last two years (2023-24 and 2024-25) KVK ASCI BAMETI ATMA KVK ASCI BAMETI ATMA (Bihar) (Bihar) 1 Horticulture 1,279 89 45 266 37,057 2,679 1,347 11939 2 Animal 867 32 Nil 125 27,454 447 Nil 7188 Husbandry 3 Beekeeping 115 66 72 69 3,241 1,980 2,156 7665 4 Fisheries 315 16 Nil 13 7,849 955 Nil 733 Total 2576 203 117 473 75,601 6,061 3,503 27525 (d): These initiatives have helped farmers in diversifying their income sources and creating the opportunity for Agri-entrepreneurship to enhance their livelihoods, improved adoption of modern agricultural techniques and also enhanced the production and productivity in agricultural as well as allied sectors. (e): Modern technologies like drone technology, protected cultivation, micro irrigation, soil & water testing, farm machinery maintenance and post-harvest management techniques are included in the training modules to enhance the skill among the farmers. Digital platforms and mobile apps are being used for e-learning and advisory services. Training programmes on organic and sustainable farming practices to improve market valued products are also provided to the beneficiaries. *****