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Agriculture educational reforms can harvest gains of economy not only in J&K, but even in SAARC region too
Hence experts suggest access to education and extensive training to be imparted to rural youth and women on war footing-basis
By: Dr G.M. Wani
Srinagar: Indian Economy is a agri-centre economy which supports sixty to seventy percent of our population, as direct rural employment. Forty five percent of the income generated by industries comes from Agri-based (Agro) Industries. Therefore, a vast potential and resource is hidden in it. If we think of Asia specific Agriculture, we have to play a significant role in the region, which has 60% of the world population. The region is rich of energy and oil resources and millennium buzzword is open boarders and common market with first priority on peace, confidence and trust. For upliftment of region, we need training education and human resource utilization. Therefore, Agriculture educational reforms are on our doorsteps to harvest the gains of common economy in the SAARC and total Asian region. These educational reforms should involve schools, colleges and Universities. The re-modeling of curriculum will need incorporation of new emerging era, like competitive global marketing, the climate, disaster, technology use, restrictions, sustainability, environment, water resource conservation, remedial factors etc. Agri-educational reforms are needed so that ICAR parallels USDA, in governing grant-in aid to whole agriculture sector. An omnibus act of agriculture in the shape of USA Farm Bill of 1996 is envisioned. New educational policies so drafted shall be non-discriminative, comprehensive, transparent and accountable.
Access to education and training to below the poverty line, rural youth and women is to be ensured. This will need a total restructured education infrastructure. A three-tyre model is envisioned which consists of jobs, training opportunities on farm mechanization and agriculture.
Training skills, up-gradation and rural orientation at University level, refinement and more innovative participatory model at farmers field.
Roaming teaching taught system on holidays and Sundays.
Teacher-student-farmer-industry-interaction-work plans-self learning by living with farmers. It will ensure quality training and job improvement of skilled manpower for use in Asian Agri development Market.
“Besides a flexible curriculum models which should have many options at B.Sc level like Natural science, Agri Science, Production system, Agri business, Social science,International Agriculture, Natural resources,Agri-business management,Biological engineering,Dietetrics and Landscape Architecture,” suggested a few scientists of Kashmir valley.
In the present era of bio-safety, phyto and zoo sanitation have assumed tremendous importance. Education and knowledge was safe and secure treasure in the past. It is no more true. The export needs knowledge and new inventions need patenting. Web and web designing have made invisible teachers to unknown students. The students-teacher relationship has raised to spiritual horizons. New targets for future educational planning and policies need to have more information and communication technology. These have been strengthened in the SAU and ICAR institutions in the last few years. However, a total connectivity is needed with farmers, farm organizations and utilization departments to harvest the gains of technological reforms to increase our exports. Inspite of ranking I in milk production our exports are meager. This is because of poor-zoo-sanitation and Global lobiest are critical meager. This is because of poor-zoo-sanitation and Global lobiest are critical of our disease free status. Therefore, ICAR has to formulate policies and programmes in Ari-export orientation.
Technology akin to farming existing in an ecosystem needs to be generated. It needs location specific perfection and adoption. This could be possible by supporting KVK & Extension system with technology testing and refinement INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESOURCES. Thus the whole discipline of Agricultural Extension needs reforms.
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