New Delhi: To provide quality agricultural education and address its challenges, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has suggested forming small student groups to help improve agricultural studies across the country.
To achieve this, the central government will request state governments to arrange farm visits for students to gain first-hand knowledge of agriculture, providing them with practical training in addition to theoretical education.
Speaking on this topic, Union Agriculture Minister Chouhan said, “We should form a small group of students who can give us constructive suggestions to improve agricultural studies. In the future, I will interact with agricultural students and try to resolve their problems.”
‘Study better experiments’
He further said, “I suggest students provide us with constructive suggestions, all the requirements of the education system, and quality facilities so that the government can work on them, as providing quality education in agriculture in the country is also very important. Study the best experiments happening around the world and find ways to implement them in our country as well as at ICAR.”
Shared field experience
Speaking about field experience, Chauhan suggested, “Agricultural education should move beyond theoretical education and focus on quality, practical training, and innovation. Field experience is essential for students, and I want university education to be more closely linked to the realities and field experiences of farmers.”
Suggestion to implement a grade system
The government has also suggested implementing a grade system in agricultural universities and colleges, and some measures are to be established to measure the performance of universities. He said that every agricultural university and institute should fulfill its true purpose by fostering skills, knowledge, and commitment among students, and that universities and colleges should promote healthy competition through a grading system that encourages excellence and accountability.
Giving advice to students, the Union Minister said that every agricultural student should visit farmers’ fields at least once a year to gain practical knowledge, understand the real challenges faced by farmers, and contribute innovative solutions.
Secretary (Department of Agricultural Research and Education) and Director General (ICAR), Dr. M.L. Jat, emphasized that agriculture, farmers, and students share a deep bond rooted in national service and inspired the youth to embrace new thinking, innovation, and create a new future. He reminded students that agriculture is not just a profession, but a form of service dedicated to national progress.
‘Suggestion to introduce new modern technologies’
Speaking on the issue of agricultural students, student Sneha Bhardwaj told ETV Bharat, “I have suggested introducing students to new modern technologies so that they can become familiar with them. We should provide knowledge on how students can join startups in the agricultural sector for the betterment of the sector.”
Expressing similar views, another student, Atul Pratap Singh, said, “We should bring our academic knowledge to the field for better results. This helps students as well as farmers and the animal husbandry sector.”
‘Students should be given five-year fellowships’
Another student, Rohitash Dudhwal, told ETV Bharat, “The government should provide five-year fellowships to ICAR students. Currently, we are only given this for three years. However, the UGC provides five-year fellowships to other students. Students should be provided a comprehensive and better environment for entrepreneurship so that they can progress properly.”
