Farming as a career choice? Yes, and right now agriculture needs youth!
Synopsis
For years, farming has seen the harsh realities of many farmers who put in all their effort to provide food for the entire nation, but in the end, failed to deliver the basic life essentials to their own families. However, we cannot ignore the fact that over the last two years, we have witnessed a tremendous wave of change in the farming sector. And this change is a result of the emergence of two important elements – modern machinery and advancement in technology.
Ploughing fields, planting seeds, harvesting, and cultivating crops, and still making more money than the conventional 9 to 5? Sounds nearly impossible, right?
For years, farming has seen the harsh realities of many farmers who put in all their effort to provide food for the entire nation, but in the end, failed to deliver the basic life essentials to their own families. However, we cannot ignore the fact that over the last two years, we have witnessed a tremendous wave of change in the farming sector. And this change is a result of the emergence of two important elements – modern machinery and advancement in technology.
As per many reports, the Indian agriculture sector was among the few industries that did not suffer a hard blow during the tumultuous pandemic year. Moreover, it is expected to register a CAGR of 4.9% during the period (2022-2027).
Despite the advent of urbanization and industrialization, farming today nearly contributes one-fifth of our total GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Often referred to as the backbone of the Indian economy, it successfully offers employment opportunities to a lot of individuals in rural areas. Besides this, consistent improvement in this sector is heavily responsible for India becoming the fifth-largest economy in the world and taking small yet concrete steps to attain the second position in the coming years.
But, why is there a compelling need for boosting youth participation?
India has a massive share of youth in its total population, and this reserve of human resources and untapped potential can be extremely beneficial for the agriculture sector. Due to a lack of education and awareness, many Indian farmers are unable to adopt improved technologies and consume their benefits. Hence, it is only through continuous youth participation that we can rescue agriculture and make swift progress towards modernization.
Nonetheless, it all boils down to how the GenZs and millennials who only dream of securing a strong position in the corporate giants can ever pick farming as their career. Clearly, we cannot expect the youth to switch to farming overnight. Instead, we can start by addressing the three common fears that are known to hinder youth participation in agriculture – the seasonal nature of income, fear of risk, and lack of quick access to financing facilities.
Also, farming practices have evolved in recent years and so have the needs of the consumers. People all around the globe are gradually moving back to their roots in several aspects. They wish to embrace their heritage, age-old traditions, and simplistic surroundings, and above all, they now desire a healthier, more natural lifestyle. Growing your own food or paying more bucks for organic and chemical-free stuff is the new ‘cool mantra’ to leading life, and a major credit for this transition goes to the Covid-19 pandemic. The unexpected trail of events that followed this disease made people more health conscious. Meanwhile, the subsequent lockdowns forced people to think out of the box, set up home gardens, and start their own little organic food ventures. And this is exactly why every modern-day visionary has ample business opportunities in this consumer market that have undergone a significant change.
Still looking for inspiration? These stories will not disappoint!
As per a report by India.com, Naman Bhurani, the founder of Vediko (an organic produce brand) completed his degree in business studies and then turned into an organic farmer and started his venture at the age of 21.
“It came as a surprise. When the lockdown first set in, we buckled down for a depressed demand and overall slow business. Much to my amazement, with each passing day the orders just came flowing in. Covid-19 had increased the focus on health and immunity. People started looking for healthier options in a bid to boost immunity. Organic was not just a luxury now but the need of the hour.”
Organic or not, if you are determined to explore unconventional career paths, then the story of this mother-son duo making Rs.40,000 a day will undoubtedly inspire you.
A report by Indiatimes states that Jithu and his mother Leena are producing around 100 kgs of mushrooms every single day with the help of their high-tech production unit and spawn testing facility in Pirovam, Ernakulam District, Kerala. What began as a hobby in a corner of their house has now become a flourishing business within just four years of its establishment. In simple words, nothing is impossible if you have the will and enthusiasm to succeed.
Jithu also provides mushroom farm training to interested farmers in order to help them start their own little ventures.
Wait, are these instances sufficient to motivate youth?
A few precedents are not enough to ensure professional stability and success in the agriculture sector. So, here are some strategies that can be used to influence youth into taking up farming.
Agriculture is one of the largest sectors, and yet the least respected – Primary education lays a strong foundation for an individual’s overall growth. Hence, the Indian education system needs to include a subject on the farming sector, its unexplored capabilities, and how to build a successful career in it. This is one way to deliver a 360-degree perspective change regarding farming as a career choice.
Youth needs to be made aware and trained – The government and private universities can conduct small workshops to introduce our youth to the new-age technologies and innovations in the farming sector. Experts can educate them on how to enrol in different subject-specific courses to access these technologies and transform into the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
Easy availability of low-interest loans – The banking institutions must offer low-interest loans to the farmers to seek the attention of the youth and help them envision a great business opportunity. This will especially play a crucial role in rural areas where finance facilities can turn everyone into stable bread earners.
Provide crop insurance to reduce risk levels – In today’s continuously changing climatic conditions, it has become nearly impossible for farmers to predict the weather and grow their crops accordingly. Hence, crop insurance schemes can be used to protect farmers against the loss of their crops caused by natural calamities like hail, drought, and floods.
Besides farming, what other job roles are there in agriculture?
The agricultural sector is huge and there is consistent demand for skilled and trained individuals in multiple professional roles associated with it. So, in case you are not interested in farming, then here is a list of widely preferred duties and roles you can flourish in.
India has various universities that provide well-curated graduate as well as postgraduate courses, and research facilities in a bunch of disciplines of agriculture studies. It is said that the right university and course can land you a promising job in this sector as its demand is only expected to soar high in the coming years. All you need is proper knowledge about the course you are interested in, the universities that provide such courses, and the kind of job opportunities these discipline-specific courses can lead to. You can also approach accredited career experts for proper guidance on how to plan your future in the field of agriculture.
To make the search process easier for you, here are some of the top universities offering agriculture courses and advanced research programs. Please refer to the official university websites to understand the entire course details.
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