As one of the world’s leading agricultural producers, India is currently facing declining farm profitability. In response, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is collaborating with the World Bank to revamp agricultural education. The goal is to cultivate a new generation of skilled professionals expected to lead the next Green Revolution. They will focus on making farming more productive, profitable, and climate-resilient.
In order to bring the curriculum in line with international standards, 77 agricultural universities in India underwent a major update. Students now have access to state-of-the-art facilities, training in advanced technologies like GPS, drones, remote sensing, data analytics, robotics, and artificial intelligence. They also have the opportunity to learn from top national and international experts and participate in study-abroad programs.
Between 2017 and 2024, the World Bank’s National Agricultural Higher Education Project, with an USD 82.50 million budget, supported ICAR in enhancing the quality of agricultural education. During this period, over 514,000 students across these universities received training. The annual student enrollment surged from 25,000 to 64,000, with 45% of the students being female. The project also promoted entrepreneurship, fostering over 90 start-ups and generating more than 500 jobs, with an average turnover of Rs 92 lakhs annually.
The advancements in education and technology have equipped these young professionals with the skills needed to transform rural India, making agriculture more sustainable and securing the nation’s food supply for future generations. Through these efforts, India is poised to lead a new agricultural revolution, ensuring both economic growth and climate resilience in the sector.
