Dr. R C Agrawal, who once served as the Deputy Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), emphasized the increasing global reputation of Indian agricultural education. He encouraged students to value the field’s role in achieving the visions of Viksit Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat. He pointed out that Indian agricultural education is gaining international attention and urged students to pursue innovation.
At a “Workshop on Agricultural Education and Opportunities” at the Horticulture College in Rajendranagar, Dr. Agrawal spoke about the essential role of agro-based start-ups in helping India become a 5 trillion USD economy. He mentioned that Artificial Intelligence would soon transform rural areas, boosting farmers’ incomes. By 2029, he anticipates the sector to grow to 6.58 billion USD, with a CAGR of 24.8%.
He also predicted the creation of 1.77 million jobs in agriculture by 2040, with more than 8% annual growth.
Dr. Danda Rajireddy, Vice Chancellor of Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University (SKLTHU), shared that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the state government are providing necessary infrastructure to universities. He confirmed that Indian agricultural education now competes on a global scale.
