On What is expected from this sconference:
We know youth are reluctant to farming, mostly becuase of poor returns and difficult working conditions. This happens when we are not able to infuse a business element in farming- agriprneurship, value chains, market led production etc. One may look for answers to the following questions:
1. Agriprneurship oportunities and kind of support icluding handholding available to take agriculture as businees not just production but also processing, value addition, branding, marketing etc.
2. Success stories of young agriprneurs- who could establish themselves overcoming the hurdles on their way- role models
3. Coaching/ youth mentoring and follow-ups. Often a short duration training is imparted and they are left to their own. They dont get opportuniteis to practice what they were preached.
Videos of successful young farmers could be used to spread positive image of agriculture among youth.
Youth Needs to be trained, engaged, employed and reatined in agriculture. Hope this conference shows the way how it can be done.
http://www.fao.org/cfs/home/blog/blog-articles/article/en/c/1042775/
Dr. Mahesh Chander