Chandigarh: Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI) has signed a memorandum of understanding with CSIR-CSIO to train skilled manpower in agriculture and allied areas under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
The MoU was signed by professor R K Sinha, director, CSIO, Chandigarh and Kamal Mohan Sodhi, director, north, Agriculture Skill Council of India. Sinha said the CSIO has well-equipped agrionics department for design and development of instruments used in agriculture sector and has transferred many technologies like electrostatic sprayer, grain moisture analyser and water testing kits to the industry recently.
Water and food sustainability is a major issue of highest importance for every country. Access to clean water and nutritious food is indispensable for human life. However, on the other hand, the resources are shrinking and population is increasing rapidly.
To address these issues, science and technology interventions are required but without having trained and skilled manpower, the sustainability can’t be achieved. Also, from long the agriculture and allied sectors are suffering from non-availability of skilled labours.
To address this specific need of skilled labours issue, and provide youth certified employable skills, the CSIR-CSIO will assist Agriculture Skill Council of India. Under this partnership, CSIR-CSIO will impart training for generating sector specific skill development such as soil and water quality testing and analysis.
The objective of this Skill Certification Scheme is to enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood. Individuals with prior learning experience or skills will also be assessed and certified under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
This partnership is a part of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), a flagship scheme of the ministry of skill development & entrepreneurship (MSDE) to benefit 10 million youths. This large pull of skilled manpower will be useful be it for increasing agriculture productivity or keeping fragile ecology secure.
Also, the trained manpower will make it possible to assess on-the-spot soil and water quality analysis resulting in to optimized soil and water management for enhancing agriculture productivity as well as ensure clean water availability.
This pull of skilled manpower is largely desired by central pollution control boards (CPCPs), krishi vigyan kendras (KVKs), private and public soil and water testing laboratories besides creating self-employment avenues.
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