Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced to set up ‘State Advisory Council for Agriculture Skills’ to coordinate with the Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI) to prepare a comprehensive time bound action program for imparting skills to the unemployed youth in the agriculture and allied sector on one hand and promoting the existing farm practices on scientific and modern lines thereby up-skilling the farmers and farm labour on the other. In his opening remarks during the meeting of high powered delegation of ASCI led by its Chairman Mr. Sanjeev Asthana here at Punjab Bhawan this morning, the Chief Minister underscored that upgradation of skills in the agriculture and allied sector was the need of the hour and the state government was all set to extend fulsome support and cooperation to implement the Skill development program in the agrarian sector. He also gave nod to the world renowned farm mechanisation company John Deere to set up a Centre of Excellence (COE) in affordable farm mechanisation to encourage the farmers for adopting the latest farm practices to enhance their yield both quantitatively and qualitatively. Mr. Badal also asked the ASCI to explore the feasibility of promoting Fishery, Apiary, Piggery, Goatery (Small remnants) besides Mushroom Cultivation through a structured approach.
To achieve all this he also gave in principle approval to ASCI to set up its regional office in the Kheti Bhawan at SAS Nagar (Mohali) so as to function it in a far more coordinated and result oriented manner. Mr. Badal also asked the Chairman ASCI to prepare a blueprint for the skill development perspective on agriculture and allied sector with reference to Punjab keeping in view its peculiar nature of agrarian economy and socio-economic conditions of the local peasantry. He further said that he would like to include this vision document in the report to be submitted to the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi by him as the Chairman of Sub Group of Chief Ministers on Skill. Taking part in the deliberations Mr. Asthana in his presentation briefly outlined the vision and mission of the council to improve the economic lot of the farmers engaged in agriculture and other allied professions like Dairy, Animal Husbandry and others. He agreed to submit a detailed document including suggestions and views for up-gradation of skills in farm sector as a ‘Punjab Model’, which could be later on replicated at the national level by the Centre. Mr. Asthana assured the Chief Minister that they would jointly work out a strategy to finalise the modalities for setting up of other COEs in consultation with the senior officers of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Technical Education.
On the occasion, a cross section of progressive farmers especially involved in Dairy, Apiary, Piggerey, Fishery, Horticulture and others put forth their vital inputs before the Chief Minister and the visiting delegation. Prominent amongst others present in the meeting included Advisor Animal Husbandry Dr. BK Uppal, Additional Chief Secretaries Mr. Suresh Kumar and Mr. Mandeep Singh Sandhu, Principal Secretary Technical Education Mr. MP Singh, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Secretary Planning Mr. Jaspal Singh, Secretary Technical Education Mr. Rakesh Verma, Director Technical Education Mr. B Purusartha, Vice Chancellor PAU Dr. BS Dhillon, Vice Chancellor GADVASU Dr AS Nanda besides the senior officers of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, Horticulture and Technical Education. Several eminent scientists, experts and academicians from the premier institutions of national and international repute related to agriculture and allied sector also attended the meeting.