Agricultural education plays a critical role in boosting food security in India by addressing various challenges and equipping individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills. Here are several ways in which agriculture education contributes to enhancing food security in India: Bearing in mind that agriculture has a much greater impact on reducing poverty and improving food security compared to other sectors of the economy and taking into account differences in the potential for agricultural production across countries. This paper aims to identify relationships between the malnutrition scale and selected characteristics describing the agricultural sector within identified clusters of developing countries. Food security is a multifaceted concept encompassing the availability, access, utilization, and stability of food. Researchers may choose to emphasize certain dimensions over others based on their focus, leading to variations. Focuses mainly on food availability issues, utilizing consumption, production, and trade measures. This implies that the regulations and agreements governing international trade can affect the quantity and types of food that are accessible on a global scale. This ratio indicates a country's engagement in the international trade of food. A high ratio suggests a reliance on exports, while a low ratio may indicate dependence on food imports. This measures the average number of calories consumed by an individual in a specific country. It reflects the adequacy of food availability for the population. Similar to calorie intake, this measures the average protein consumption per person. It is crucial for assessing the nutritional quality of diets.
Certain facts about world hunger problems: Alimentation of a global population of about 10 billion people by 2050 would necessitate a drastic shift in how food is produced, processed, exchanged, and eaten (https://www.fao.org/food-systems/en/). Encourage and invest in sustainable farming practices to minimize environmental impact, conserve resources, and promote long-term soil health.
Promote agroecological approaches that integrate ecological principles into agricultural systems. Scientists and planners are concerned about stagnant or declining factor productivity in Indian agriculture due to recent developments. Among many factors causing this decline, natural resource degradation, slow pace of innovations, and human resources not matching with the challenges, are important.
Agricultural education modelled on the lines of the US Land-Grant system introduced during the early 60s along with other Green Revolution programs has evolved considerably in terms of improved infrastructure, trained faculty, course structure, content, and hands-on practical training, etc., but still struggling to meet the expectations of the fast-changing technology of agriculture. Agricultural Education in India is supported and regulated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and is imparted largely through State Agricultural Universities (70), and few Deemed to be “Universities (4), Central Agricultural Universities (3), Central Universities with Agriculture Faculty (4)”. Recently private sector institutions have also entered this arena. The intake capacity of students, which was less than 5,000 in 1960, has now gone up to 64,485 (https://education.icar. gov.in/). With about 350 constituent colleges, these AUs enroll, on an annual basis, about 40,781 students at the UG level, over 13,798 at Master’ level, and 4,992 in Ph.D. programs. In addition to this, there are many private colleges that are affiliated with the government and enroll thousands of students annually.
Agricultural education plays a crucial role in the Indian food industry by contributing to the development and sustainability of the agricultural sector. In the Madhya Pradesh School of Agriculture, Sanjeev Agrawal Global Education (SAGE) University, Bhopal, plays a key role in the area of agricultural education. Here are some key aspects of the role of agricultural education in the Indian economy.
Agricultural education equips individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to engage in modern and sustainable farming practices. This includes crop management, pest control, water conservation, and the use of advanced technologies in agriculture.
The students learn about training including the proper operation and maintenance of modern agricultural machinery and equipment. Agricultural education introduces the use of technology, such as GPS and sensors, for precision farming to optimize resource use. Organic farming practices individuals are educated on organic farming principles and practices, including certification processes. Techniques for producing organic fertilizers are taught to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly farming. Agricultural education includes market-oriented training, teaching individuals to analyze market trends and consumer preferences. Students learn business planning, financial management, and marketing strategies to start and run successful agricultural enterprises.
Agricultural education introduces research methodologies, enabling individuals to conduct experiments and contribute to agricultural research. Stay updated on emerging technologies and innovations in agriculture to remain competitive and sustainable. Agricultural education emphasizes environmentally sustainable farming practices, promoting biodiversity, and reducing the ecological footprint.
Agricultural education fosters entrepreneurship by providing aspiring farmers and Agripreneurship with the knowledge and skills needed to establish and manage successful agricultural businesses. This can lead to the creation of new ventures and job opportunities within the food industry. Courses in agriculture education can include modules on business planning, financial management, and marketing strategies tailored to the agricultural sector. This prepares individuals to create viable business plans for their ventures.
The Indian food industry can benefit significantly from the adoption of modern agricultural technologies. Agricultural education helps farmers understand and implement cutting-edge technologies such as precision farming, biotechnology, and data-driven agriculture, leading to increased efficiency and productivity. Agriculture education programs can facilitate access to resources such as finance, subsidies, and government support. Entrepreneurs need to know how to navigate these systems and leverage available resources to start and grow their businesses.
With increasing concerns about environmental sustainability, agricultural education promotes environmentally friendly practices. This includes organic farming, conservation agriculture, and the efficient use of natural resources. Sustainable practices contribute to the long-term viability of the food industry. Emphasizing sustainable agriculture practices is increasingly important. Education in sustainable farming methods, organic farming, and environmentally friendly approaches not only contributes to responsible entrepreneurship but also aligns with consumer preferences.
Agricultural education emphasizes the importance of adhering to quality and safety standards in food production. This is crucial for meeting domestic and international regulations, ensuring food safety, and maintaining the reputation of Indian agricultural products in the global market.
Agricultural education helps farmers understand market dynamics and consumer preferences. This knowledge enables them to make informed decisions about crop selection, production volumes, and marketing strategies, ultimately contributing to a more market-oriented and competitive food industry. Agricultural education provides farmers with knowledge about market dynamics, including supply and demand, pricing mechanisms, and factors influencing market trends. This understanding helps farmers make informed decisions about what crops or livestock to produce. armers with a market-oriented education are trained in market research. They learn how to identify market opportunities, assess consumer preferences, and analyze competitors. This knowledge enables them to tailor their production to meet consumer demands. Farmers learn about the entire agricultural value chain, from production to processing and distribution. This holistic understanding helps them identify areas where they can add value to their products, such as through processing or direct marketing, to capture more of the value chain benefits.
The SAGE School of Agriculture at SAGE University (SUB) is a state-of-the-art school dedicated to serving the nation among top B.Sc Agriculture Colleges that play a vital role in agriculture education in Bhopal. The school foresees providing an atmosphere not only for healthy academic activities but also for the round development of students. The program of education at the School of Agriculture, the best agriculture college in MP provides transparency, and flexibility to pursue a successful career in Agriculture. SUB commits to providing accessible infrastructure and competitive scholarship schemes for meritorious students to pursue the course. In the current academic session, the school will offer a 4-year Bachelor of Science (Hons.) program in Agriculture. The well-equipped Department with smart classrooms to provide the best teaching facilities. Advanced instrumentation in laboratories will enable practical-oriented teaching, supported by appropriate teaching and learning methodologies. Our goal is to offer high-quality education, and state-of-the-art infrastructure for Agriculture College in Bhopal, and conduct research in emerging areas of agriculture to make a difference at the grassroots level.
Policy Advocacy: Agricultural education institutions play a role in advocating for policies that support the growth and sustainability of the agricultural sector. This includes policies related to research funding, infrastructure development, and farmer welfare, which collectively contribute to a robust food industry.
Dr. Atul Pachauri
Assistant Professor (Genetics and Plant Breeding)
School of Agriculture
Sanjeev Agrawal Global Education, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
