Best Agripreneurs Awarded on National Youth Day at NASC Complex, New Delhi

The AC&ABC Scheme is being implemented across the country by the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad, through a network of 136 Nodal Training Institutes (NTIs) spread across all states.

This year's National Youth Day, also known as Vivekananda Jayanti, was appropriately commemorated in New Delhi today by bestowing National Awards on 82 best Agripreneurs who were trained under the Central Sector Scheme - Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business (AC&ABC) of the Government of India for their significant contribution to farmers through agri-clinic and agribusiness services. In addition, 8 Nodal Training Institutes (NTIs) that provide effective AC&ABC training received Awards for their best training, handholding, and facilitation activities.

The award ceremony was attended by over 850 Agripreneurs from across the country, senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Government of India, MANAGE - Hyderabad, Senior Managers from NABARD, Lead Banks, ICAR Scientists, and private Agri-Business Companies.

In his welcome address, Dr. P Chandra Shekara, Director General of MANAGE, stated that so far 83,810 agri-graduates have been trained under the AC&ABC Scheme, and approximately 36,560 have established Agri-ventures in rural areas. They are able to create jobs for rural youth while also achieving self-employment by providing services to farmers.

The Awards Ceremony was inaugurated by Shubha Thakur, Joint Secretary, MA&FW, GoI, who also presented awards to the Best Agripreneurs and Best Nodal Training Institutes.

Thakur stated in her address that the Agripreneur Awards have come a long way since their inception two decades ago. The growing number of Agripreneurs demonstrates that the Agriculture sector is attracting young people. She encouraged young people to apply for funding from the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, NABARD, and banking sector.

Senior officers from MA&FW, MANAGE, NABARD, Lead Banks, and the Agri-Business Sector shared policy reform in AC&ABC, latest developments in AC&ABC, subsidy and loans under AC&ABC, and opportunities for Agripreneurs under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, National Beekeeping and Honey Mission, and RKVY-RAFTAAR during the presentations and discussions.

Sajith Kumar Kunhalath, Director, MA&FW; Dr. P Chandra Shekara, DG-MANAGE; Nivedita Tiwary, General Manager, Dept. of Refinance, NABARD; Shantanu Pendse, CGM (ABU&GSS) SBI, Mumbai; Manish Saxena, Senior IT Consultant, AIF PMU; Naveen Kumar Patale ED, NBB; Balram Singh, Joint Director (Extension Reforms), MA&FW; Dr Shahaji Phand, Principal Coordinator, AC&ABC, MANAGE; and Anil Kumar SG, CEO Samunnati, were among the distinguished speakers who took part in the presentations and discussions.