Attracting and Retaining of Youth in Agriculture(ARYA)
Project Description
Agriculture need to be made more profitable to create interest and confidence among rural youth and retain them in agriculture. Rural youth are migrating to urban areas in search of jobs and on the other hand, small holdings are on the rise which poses challenge to food security for increasing population. A comprehensive model for the development of rural youth,particularly agricultural youth, was developed by ICAR to ensure food security of the country and initiated a programme on "Attracting and Retaining of Youth in Agriculture (ARYA)".
Millet based bakery products unit established for rural youth by KVK- Nalgonda
Objectives
- To attract and empower the youth in rural areas to take up various agriculture, allied and service sector enterprises for sustainable income and gainful employment in selected districts.
- To enable the farm youth to establish network groups to take up resource and capital intensive activities like processing, value addition and marketing.
- To demonstrate functional linkage with different institutions and stakeholders for convergence of opportunities available under various schemes/program for sustainable development of youth.
The ARYA Project was implemented by ATARI Hyderabad (the then Zonal Project Directorate, Zone V) during March 2015 with three KVKs viz., Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, Nalgonda (Kampasagar) in Telangana and Nagpur in Maharashtra. During 2017-18, when the ATARIs were re-organized, KVK-Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu was added in place of KVK-Nagpur.During March 2018, the project was sanctioned to seven additional KVKs. The state wise number of KVKs implementing ARYA Project during 2019-20 are, three in Andhra Pradesh (KVK-Nellore, KVK-Kadapa (Utkur) and KVK-West Godavari (VR Gudem)), two in Telangana (KVK-Nalgonda (Kampasagar) and KVK-Warrangal (Malyal)), four in Tamil Nadu (KVK-Kanyakumari, KVK-Dharmapuri, KVK-Sivaganga and KVK-Erode) and one in Puducherry (KVK-Puducherry).
Skill Training programmes organized to rural youth by ARYA KVKs
| State | Name of KVK | Training programme organized |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Nellore and Kadapa (Utukur) | Vermicompost production, Raising of Fruits and Vegetable nursery under shade net, Mushroom production, Value addition to millets and cereals |
| West Godavari (VR Gudem) | Apiary, Integrated farming system, Poultry and value addition | |
| Telangana | Nalgonda (Kampasagar) | Nursery raising of vegetables under shade net houses, Bakery products, Vermi compost production, Integrated farming system |
| Warangal (Malyal) | Poultry, Nursery raising of vegetables under shade net houses, Vermicompost production and value addition | |
| Tamil Nadu | Dharmapuri | Goatery, Bio inputs production, Poultry, Integrated farming system, Small scale Hydroponic for leafy vegetable Production |
| Shivagangai | Fishery, Organic products, Poultry, Vermicompost | |
| Kanyakumari | Mushroom production, Bee keeping, Value added products from coconut, banana flour | |
| Erode | Apiary, Bio inputs production, Poultry, Value addition, Vermicompost | |
| Puducherry | Puducherry | Poultry, Mushroom cultivation, Goatery |
Achievements 2018-19 to 2024-25
| Name of KVK | No. of Trainings | No. of Youth benefitted |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | ||
| Nellore | 70 | 2460 |
| West Godavari (VR Gudem) | 70 | 1833 |
| Kadapa (Utukur) | 56 | 1605 |
| Total(AP) | 196 | 5898 |
| Telangana | ||
| Nalgonda (Kampasagar) | 47 | 1664 |
| Warangal (Malyal) | 36 | 1037 |
| Total(TS) | 83 | 2701 |
| Tamil Nadu | ||
| Dharmapuri | 40 | 1182 |
| Shivagangai | 121 | 1788 |
| Kanyakumari | 108 | 1919 |
| Erode | 99 | 2242 |
| Total(TN) | 368 | 7131 |
| Puducherry | ||
| Puducherry | 17 | 324 |
| Total(PY) | 17 | 324 |
| Total for the Zone | 664 | 16054 |
2021-22
A total of 111 trainings were conducted on various enterprises viz., Apiary, Bio-Inputs, Fishery, IFS, Mushroom production, Nursery, Poultry, Sheep and goat, Value addition and Vermicompost by ARYA KVKs in which 2361 youth were trained. Out of them, 1151 youth have established 632 enterprise units. Nellore has trained 120 youth on vermicomposting, mushroom production and establishment of nursery. Maximum number of 702 youth were trained on value addition, which includes fruit and vegetable preservation and value-added products, millet based value added products, bakery, value added products from banana and coconut. A total of 308 youth have established 119 enterprises in value addition.
2022-23
A total of 92 trainings were conducted on various enterprises viz., Apiary, Bio Inputs Production, Dairy, Fishery, Goat and sheep farming, IFS, Mushroom production, Nursery management, Poultry, Value Addition and Vermicompost production by ARYA KVKs in which 1873 youth were trained. Out of them, 612 youth have established 283 enterprise units. Maximum number of 406 youth were trained on value addition, which includes fruit and vegetable preservation and value-added products, millet-based value added products, bakery, value added products from banana and coconut. A total of 173 youth have established 122 enterprises in value addition.
2023-24
A total of 81 trainings were conducted on various enterprises viz., Apiary, Bio Inputs Production, Drone pilot license programme, Fishery, Goat and sheep farming, Integrated Farming System, Mushroom production, Nursery management, Poultry, Value Addition and Vermicompost production by ARYA KVKs in which 2210 youth were trained. Out of them, 727 youth have established 421 enterprise units. Maximum number of 446 youth were trained in Value addition followed by 443 youth in poultry, 347 in mushroom production and 344 in Nursery management. A total of 189 youth has established 87 enterprises in Nursery.
2024-25
A total of 93 trainings were conducted on various enterprises viz., apiary, bio inputs production, drone pilot license programme, fishery, goat and sheep farming, integrated farming system, mushroom production, nursery management, poultry, hydroponics, value addition and vermicompost production by ARYA KVKs in which 2242 youth were trained. Out of them, 509 youth have established 459 enterprise units. Maximum number of 498 youth were trained in Value addition followed by 357 youth in vermicompost, 310 in poultry, 244 in mushroom production and 211 in Nursery management. A total of 310 youth has established 170 enterprises in Poultry.
Success Stories
KVK Warangal Malyal, Telangana
Shade net nursery by Rural Youth group G.K thanda (Amapalem) village of Thourur Mandal is about 55 km far from KVK, Malyal, Mahabubabad district. The farmers of this village are growing chilli and vegetables crops and depends on the nearest market for seedlings. Gugulothu Ramesh is a post graduate (M.Tech) unemployed youth from village of G.K thanda (amapalem) village. As there is no nursery in the village and the demand for seedlings is high, he formed a group with another four unemployed youth of the village to produce nursery on commercial basis. KVK Malyal provided technical guidance and financial support for establishing shade net nursery under ARYA project. Skill training on shade net nursery was provided in the year 2019. After the skill training was completed, site selection was done and necessary inputs were provided for construction of shade net in the village. Initially they started growing chilly nursery and sold 1.5 lakh chilli nursery plants with in span of three months and earned 3 lakhs. With this response they added producing chrysanthemum cuttings and earned another Rs.4 lakhs. Later they extended the seedling production to tomato and Brinjal crops also. Now, this group (5 members) has emerged as one of the successful entrepreneurs among the youth in shade net nursery enterprise under ARYA project and earning between Rs.6,00,00 to Rs.6,50,000 annually.
KVK Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
Mrs. Subitha Albert attended Mushroom cultivation and spawn production training under ARYA project and involved in production of Oyster mushroom. The fresh mushroom is marketed as "VEGGION" meeting the retail demand of the domestic market of Kanyakumari district and marketing in Kerala. This unit established has a turnover of 4000 Kg /Year with an annual net income of Rs. 5,60,000/- .
KVK Kanyakumari empowered entrepreneurs through training on scientific beekeeping, value addition, and marketing. An exposure visit to successful bee farms enhanced their knowledge. Through the ARYA scheme, a village-level honey processing incubation centre was established, equipped with automated machinery. Mr. CALEB Y beneficiary manages 950 bee hives, producing 6300 kg of honey annually, and has obtained AGMARK certification. The enterprise, CJ Queen Honey, generates a net income of Rs. 6,73,500/year. The incubation centre provides training and processing services to fellow farmers, marketing products like honey, soap, and pain balm across southern India.
National Workshop of ARYA Project 2025
Venue: BAMETI, Patna, Bihar organized by ICAR-ATARI-ZONE-IV, PATNA
22-23 January 2025
