Government to Add More Seats in CCS-NIAM; Abolish Compulsory Stay in Hostel

The Centre will be adding 60 more seats in the PG Diploma in Agri-Business Management course offered by the Jaipur-based Chaudhary Charan Singh National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (CCS-NIAM). This was announced by Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday, along with stressing that the youth should be more attracted to the farm sector.

Additionally, the government will also abolish the compulsory rule that students would have to reside in the hostel. The minister announced all the changes while speaking to the 4^th convocation of CCS-NIAM in Jaipur. At present, the college takes 60 students for the PG Diploma in Agribusiness Management.

“The agriculture sector of the nation requires the input of students and youth who are studying the course. The agriculture sector will benefit greatly because of their contributions,” Tomar said while talking to the media at the event which took place in Jaipur.

The agriculture sector contributes greatly to the economy and is very crucial. The youth, he stated, should be attracted to the opportunities within the sector. He added that while there were many challenges in the agricultural sector, the central government has been diligent in tackling the issues.

The minister said the predominant challenges included moving towards remunerative crops, crop diversification, and elimination of middlemen in the sale of produce. All of which, he assured, Centre would be dealing with in a planned manner.

During the convocation, Tomar handed diplomas to the graduates of the Post Graduate Diploma-Agri Business Management. He also gave away medals to the students on the merit list. The minister proceeded to launch products of startups that were trained and funded by NIAM. He also distributed cheques for grants.

Also, a product display and startup exhibition were planned. Other attendees included Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Member of Parliament Ramcharan Bohra, Rajasthan Principal Secretary Dinesh Kumar, and Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary.