In connection with improving agriculture education under the new education policy in the country, Vice-Chancellors of Agricultural Universities, including deans of Agriculture Universities across the country were attended a webinar with Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. Hundreds of scholars held extensive discussions. On this occasion, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar stressed on making agricultural education more employment-oriented and said that agriculture sector should be upgraded through new education policy. Mr. Tomar has asked the Indian Council of Agricultural Research to form a committee in this regard, which will give its recommendations.
In the webinar, Union Minister said that the field of agriculture is important and full of diversities. It is also special from the economic point of view, because large population of the country gets employment in agriculture sector. It is also the largest sector in terms of production, so discussions can be held with academics as to how the new education policy can be incorporated to improve it. It has been the endeavour of the government that with the new era, we should also keep changing our policies and rules. It is in this context that the Govt. took policy decisions in the last six years in the agricultural sector, which are laudable and important and necessary with a view to strengthening this sector. When the Prime Minister said that the income of farmers should be doubled, then the world's largest income support scheme PM- Farmer was also implemented. Shri Tomar said that the Central Government has also made provision for special package for animal husbandry, herbal farming, fisheries, bee keeping and other allied sectors including agriculture infrastructure fund of Rs one lakh crore. These will fulfill the needs of the agriculture sector, create employment opportunities.
In the webinar, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Shri Parshottam Rupala and Shri Kailash Chaudhary, V.V. Vice President of the Grants Commission, Mr. Bhushan Patwardhan, Secretary General of Indian Universities Pankaj Mittal, Vice-Chancellors, Dean and Senior Professors also expressed their views. Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Director General of ICAR, conducted. Deputy Director General Shri R.C. Aggarwal expressed his gratitude.
While commenting on this issue Dr Inderjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana appreciated the efforts to enhance the employability through agriculture sector.
