The enormous reverse migration of individuals from urban areas to towns ever since lockdown was imposed due to COVID-19 has put focus on the Bring in and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA) plan of the Centre with a number of experts suggesting that time is now ideal to go for full-fledged implementation of the ambitious plan.
ARYA scheme is currently being implemented in 100 districts in the country on an experimental basis. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research Study (ICAR) used up this effort several years back following report by a committee of specialists that checked out methods and methods of wooing rural youth to farming and allied sectors by guaranteeing a dignified life for them in towns.
Such a scheme had been taken up especially in the wake of a bulk of rural youth shunning farming and migrating to cities searching for routine tasks. The primary objective of the plan was to turn agriculture and allied sectors into attractive and profit-making proposition for the rural youth. Naturally, the advantages of the plan are not restricted to rural youth alone as the nation’s food and dietary security would be looked after if vibrancy of farming sector is ensured by bring in youth and pressure on urban locations is reduced by checking migration.
Karnataka had actually played a vital part in preparing this report as farming extension specialist and the then Vice-Chancellor of University of Agricultural Sciences-Benga