Alert! If There Is No Agriculture Degree, Your License Will Be Canceled

Just like a pharmacy degree/diploma is mandatory for a pharmacist to open any medical store in India, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has now decided to do the same with the dealers of pesticides or fertilizers. As per reports, DAESI (Diploma in Agriculture Extension Service for Input Dealers) or B.Sc in Agriculture is mandatory for anybody wants to become a fertilizer or pesticides dealer in India or their license will be canceled. Agri-Input Dealers in the country are the prime source of farm solutions to the farming community, besides the supply of inputs and credit. However, majority of these dealers do not have proper agricultural education.

According to reports, about 300 to 500 people have lost their license for selling seeds, pesticides medicine and fertilizer in Panipat district. Moreover, it should be noted that there are many people in this field who are not yet graduates. The department has ordered the closure of shops along with renewing the licenses of the vendors who don’t possess a degree or diploma.

Diploma or B.Sc Degree Required

According to the Deputy Director of Agriculture, Dr. Virendra Dev Arya (Panipat), it is mandatory for the vendor to have a one-year diploma of DAESI or a graduate (chemistry) or BSc degree in Agriculture from a well recognized institute. Those fertilizers, seeds and drug dealers who have licenses without degrees or diplomas, apply before 31 December 2020 and do this diploma or else their license will be canceled in the year 2021, he added.

How to Apply or Get a Diploma in DAESI?

In order to build technical competency among the fertilizer/pesticides traders in agriculture and to facilitate them to serve the farmers better and to act as para – extension professionals, National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) has launched a self-financed “One-year Diploma in Agricultural Extension Services for Input Dealers (DAESI) Program” during the year 2003 with a course fee of Rs.20, 000/- to the input dealers. Due to positive impact of the program, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India has decided to implement this program for Input dealers in all the States of the country.

The program will be implemented by MANAGE through State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institutes (SAMETIs). The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation & Farmers' Welfare (DAC & FW), GoI, will subsidize the course fee (50%) to the extent of 10,000/- per Input dealer. However, where Agribusiness companies are involved, the company will contribute Rs.10, 000/- and the balance Rs.10, 000/- will be contributed equally by DAC and Input Dealer @ Rs.5000/- each.

The technical information is delivered through Contact Classes by Agricultural Experts & Practitioners at district level on Sundays or Market holidays for 48 days including field visits spread over a year. Details of program are available in the guidelines.