Understanding the Importance of Agricultural Education Day!

For the growth and development of agriculture in India, it is important to motivate and encourage the youth towards this sector. The young generation must be given training on need and importance of agricultural education in India.

This may require massive awareness programs among the youth focusing on various facets of agriculture and related subjects.

Keeping this in view, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has decided to celebrate 3rd December as ‘Agricultural Education Day’, which is the Birthday of the first President of Independent India and the first Union Minister of Agriculture of India in 1946, Bharat Ratna, Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

About Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was one of the famous leaders of the Indian Nationalist Movement next to Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri & Vallabhbhai Patel. He gave up a well-paid profession in order to pursue a greater goal of attaining freedom for the nation. He was one of the chief architects in shaping the Republic of India.

He entered into politics in a quiet and light-footed manner. He was appointed as the Food & Agriculture Minister in the Government headed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946. As a strong believer in the maximization of agricultural productivity, he made a slogan ‘Grow More Food.’

Need of Agricultural Education

Agricultural education basically teaches about agriculture, food & natural resources. Through these subjects, students are taught a wide variety of skills that also includes science, math, communications, leadership, management & technology.

At present, efforts are being made to introduce several topics, courses, and programs on different aspects of agriculture for students in schools as well colleges. The main objective of Agricultural education day is to expose students to different aspects of agriculture and its significance in the country's growth and development. On this day, an attempt is made to inspire and motivate students towards farming so that they could develop some interest in this field.

The Government of India has also started implementing many courses and programs to strengthen Agricultural Education, Research & Extension for an enduring and sustainable development in agriculture.

Today we have many agricultural universities and colleges in India. Some of the best agriculture colleges include;

• Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Delhi

• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore

• Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana etc.

• G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUA&T), Uttarakhand

• Kerala Agricultural University

• Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu