AC & ABC, a mega flagship scheme implemented in the country in collaboration with NABARD aims to transform unemployed youth into self-employed agripreneurs through 45-day free residential training
National Awards to 82 best agripreneurs who were trained under the Central Sector Scheme – Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business (AC&ABC) of Government of India for their significant contribution to farmers through agri-clinic and agribusiness services.
Eighty-two agripreneurs, who were trained under the Central Sector Scheme – Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business (AC & ABC) – of the Government of India for their significant contribution to farmers through agri-clinic and agribusiness services were given National Awards on this year’s National Youth Day, also known as Vivekananda Jayanti, in New Delhi.
AC & ABC, a mega flagship scheme implemented in the country in collaboration with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) since 2002 aims to transform unemployed youth into self-employed agripreneurs through a 45-day free residential training at different parts of the country with a provision for availing loan and subsidy from banks.
The AC & ABC scheme is being implemented by Hyderabad-based National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management known as MANAGE with a network of 136 Nodal Training Institutes (NTIs) spread across all the states.
Eight NTIs, who impart AC & ABC training, also received awards for their training, handholding and facilitation activities.
More than 850 agripreneurs from all parts of the country, senior officials from Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MA&FW), MANAGE, senior managers from NABARD, lead banks, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) scientists and private agri-business companies attended the award ceremony held at the National Agricultural Science Complex, New Delhi.
Dr P Chandra Shekara, Director General, MANAGE in his welcome address said that so far 83,810 agri-graduates have been trained under AC & ABC scheme and about 36,560 have established agri-ventures in rural areas. They are able to achieve self-employment by providing services to farmers and also create jobs for rural youth.
The chief guest, Shubha Thakur, Joint Secretary, MA&FW, distributed awards to Best Agripreneurs and Best Nodal Training Institutes.
In her address, Thakur said Agripreneur Awards have come a long way since being instituted two decades ago. The rising numbers of agriprenuers proves that the youth is getting attracted to the agriculture sector. She appealed to the youth to avail of funding from the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), NABARD and the banking sector.
During the presentations and discussions, senior officer from MA&FW, MANAGE, NABARD, lead banks and agri-business sector shared the policy reforms, latest developments, subsidy and loans under AC & ABC and explained opportunities to agripreneurs under AIF, National Beekeeping and Honey Mission, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) and Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RAFTAAR).
The eminent speakers, who participated in the discussion included Sajith Kumar Kunhalath, Director, MA&FW; Dr P Chandra Shekara, Director General, MANAGE; Nivedita Tiwary, General Manager, Department of Refinance, NABARD; Shantanu Pendse, Chief General Manager (ABU & GSS), State Bank of India, Mumbai; Manish Saxena, senior IT consultant, AIF (PMU); Naveen Kumar Patale, Executive Director, National Bee Board; Balram Singh, Joint Director (Extension Reforms), MA&FW; Dr Shahaji Phand, Principal Coordinator, AC & ABC, MANAGE; and Anilkumar SG, CEO, Samunnati.