Wokha, November 1 (MExN): Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Wokha conducted an awareness programme on Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA) project at its conference hall on October 27.
Dr. Santosh Kr. Baishya, Senior Scientist and Head (Programme Coordinator), KVK Wokha highlighted that only five KVKs were selected from the North East states for the implementation of ARYA project, including KVK Wokha. The objective of ARYA project, he said, is to uplift the socio-economic status of rural youths through sustainable agricultural enterprises and converting shifting cultivation to generate round the year employment and income generation in tribal rural areas.
A total of 200 unemployed educated youth are to be selected under ARYA project for four enterprises, namely piggery farming, poultry farming, mushroom production and production of cut flowers under protected cultivation to be promoted through the project. He also outlined the technical programme of the project and asked the youth of the district to come forward and develop entrepreneurial activity in their local area through the project.
The chief guest, Tsutsowe Kupa, EAC Judicial, Wokha in his speech encouraged the youths to take up the entrepreneurial activities through ARYA project and give their best for the overall development of agriculture to make the district self sufficient in food production. He stressed on the transformation of subsistence agriculture to surplus agriculture, adding Nagaland should not depend on other states for food.
Peter Yanthan, Joint Director (Agriculture) encouraged the participants to sincerely implement the project by quoting Jawaharlal Nehru, “Everything else can wait but not agriculture.”
Myansao Lotha, District Soil Conservation Officer encouraged the youth stating that a self employed person who takes and does his work sincerely can earn more than a salaried employee and same will happen if unemployed educated youth take up enterprises through the ARYA project.
Altogether, 109 rural youths from 27 villages, 11 officials from agriculture and allied departments attended the programme.
