ASCI – Skill Development Modules - Opportunities for FPOs
=====================================================================================================================Farmer Producer Organisations:
The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India has framed broad guidelines for the activities of the Farmer Producer Organisations. The Ministry has observed that over the years, farm holding size has been reduced making it difficult to adopt farm mechanization and apply the scientific practices of production. Further, these small farmers face challenges in accessing the market and raise remunerative prices for their produce.
In order to address such constraints of small farm holders in production and marketing, collectivization of these farmers to leverage economy of scale through formation of their group/association leading to the Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) is the trajectory to achieve the target of doubling the farmers’ income.
The Cluster Development program is designed to leverage the geographical specialization of horticulture clusters and promote integrated and market led development of pre-production, production, post-harvest, logistics, branding and marketing activities.
Agriculture Skill Council of India
The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship has set up sector wise Councils to bridge the gaps in skills and industry requirements and creating a sustainable industry-aligned ecosystem for robust skill and entrepreneurship development.
The Agricultural Skill Council of India (ASCI) was set up in January, 2013 with a mission towards capacity building by bridging gaps and upgrading skills of farmers, wage workers, self-employed and extension workers engaged in organized/unorganized segments of Agriculture & Allied Sectors.
ASCI has identified the emerging areas of skill development in Organic Farming, Hi-Tech Horticulture, Precision Farming, Protected Cultivation, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Poultry, Micro-Propagation, Integrated Natural Resource Management, Integrated Pest & Nutrients Management, Production of Quality Seeds, Watershed Management, Post-Harvest Management & Value Addition, Application of Bio-Technology, Information & Communication Technologies, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and conservation of bio-diversity of plants, animals, fish and microbes.
The National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) has recognized ASCI as its awarding body for the skill development and making farmers of the country agricultural entrepreneurs through market information and adopting end to end approach to skilling and linking all the stake holders of the Agriculture Value Chain.
ASCI has developed the following Training Qualification Packs:
- Agricultural Crop Production: A wide range of field crop cultivation courses to skill the cultivators and agricultural laborers with the objective of increasing productivity and production of jute, pulses, rice, wheat, sugarcane, groundnut, basmati rice, cereals, spices, millets, oil and several other cash crops.
- Training Qualification Packs: Cereal crop grower, Oilseed crop grower, Paddy Farmer, Cotton cultivator, Sugarcane cultivator, Pulses cultivator, Jute and Mesta Cultivator, Organic Grower, Farm Supervisor, Farm Manager, Farm Worker, Group Farming Practitioner.
- Farm Mechanization: Conversion of uncultivable land to agricultural land through advanced tilling techniques; shifting of land used for feed/fodder cultivation for draught animals towards food production.
- Training Qualification Packs: Tractor Operator, Combine Harvester Machine Operator, Power Tiller operator, Operator – Reaper, Thresher and Crop Residue Machinery, Service and Maintenance Technician – Farm Machinery, Tractor Service Mechanic, Rice Planter Machine Operator cum Mechanic, Pesticide & Fertilizer Applicator, Agriculture Machinery Demonstrator, Farm Workshop Foreman/Supervisor, Agriculture Machinery Repair and Maintenance Service Provider, Custom Hiring Service Provider, Farm Workshop Service Manager.
- Precision Farming & Irrigation: It is an approach to manage farms using information technology ensuring inputs in optimum quantity for a crop to grow and meet a subtle increase in demand for exotic fruits and vegetables
- Training Qualification Packs: Kisan Drone Operator, Greenhouse Operator, Greenhouse installer, Micro-Irrigation Technician, Irrigation Service Technician, Solar pump technician
- Production Horticulture: India ranks 2nd in production of fruits, vegetables and flowers and largest producer of spices, plantation crops, medicinal and aromatic plants and mushrooms. With the increasing demand for the highly nutritious and medicinal valued crops, skilling is required to meet the demands of the population. The courses provided help in discovering the skills and excel in production of various crops.
- Training Qualification Packs: Temperate Fruit Grower, Tropical/Sub-Tropical Fruit Grower, Vegetable Grower, Vineyard Grower, Orchard Worker, Solanaceous Crop Cultivator, Coffee Plantation Worker, Tea Plantation Worker, Friends of Coconut Tree, Tea Factory Assistant, Tea Maker (Production), Neera Technician cum Primary Processor, Essential Oil Extractor, Banana Farmer cum Primary Processor, Makhana Grower cum Processor, Coconut Grower cum Primary Processor, Spice Crop Cultivator, Floriculturist, Flower Handler – Packaging & Palletising, Horticulturist – Protected Cultivation.
- Amenity Horticulture: Is a section of Horticulture involved with growing plants for recreational or ornamental purposes. It includes providing, establishing and managing amenity horticultural sites.
- Training Qualification Packs: Gardener, Assistant Gardener, Nursery worker, Gardener cum Nursery Raiser, Farm Worker, Interior Landscaper, Florist, Hydroponics Technician, Heritage Gardener, Horticulture Supervisor.
- Post-Harvest Supply Chain Management: India is the world’s second largest producer of fruits and vegetables. To reduce wastage, there is a need to manage the post-harvest supply chain. Projected skill requirement is 34,07,938 Nos. in the upcoming years, hence skilling is necessary.
- Training Qualification Packs: Agriculture Warehouse Worker, Pack House Worker, Supply chain field executive, Ripening Chamber Operator, Cold Storage Supervisor, CA Store Technician, Cold Store Keeper, Agri Warehouse Supervisor, Cold Storage Manager, Reefer Vehicle Operator, Agri Commodity Fumigation Operator
- Seed Industry: Rising awareness among the farmers relating to the benefits of using certified/quality seeds has led to an increase in the demand for seeds. ASCI provide trainings that ensure quality seed production and further processing activities.
- Training Qualification Packs: Seed Analysis in-charge, Seed Processing Worker, Seed processing plant technician, Seed processing Plant Supervisor, Quality Seed Grower.
- Soil Health Management: Soil erosion, salinity, water logging, alkalinity, sodicity, acidity, etc. directly affects the soil productivity and fertility. To manage the soil health there is a need to test the soil and take corrective measures, thereby increasing the productivity and providing huge employment opportunities for soil testing labs.
- Watershed Management: It is the study of the relevant characteristics of a watershed aimed at sustainable distribution of its resources and the process of creating and implementing plans, programs and projects to sustain and enhance watershed functions that affect the plant, animal and human communities within a watershed boundary.
- Training Qualification Packs: Water Resource Assistant, Community Mobiliser, Para Geohydrologist, Water Resource Supervisor, Water Resource Expert, Soil & Water Conservation Technician.
- Agri-Information Management: Strategizing and managing the delivery of agriculture extension services/information through field visits, experiments, demonstrations and training programs. Information can be about relevant agricultural machineries, production technologies, digitalization, government schemes, marker, loans, credit information for the benefit of the farmers. Hence, the creation of agriculture information (by extensions services, research, education programs, etc) help in dissemination of information to farmers so that they can make better decisions in order to take advantage of market opportunities and manage continuous changes in their production systems. ASCI Rural Agricultural Services encompass a wide range of communication and learning activities organized for rural people by educators from different disciplines.
- Training Qualification Packs: Agriculture Extension Service Provider, Agriculture Field Officer, Community Service Provider, Agriculture Extension Executive, Agri Service Input Dealer, Institution Development Manager, Agri-Clinic and Agri-Business Centre Manager,
- Rural Enterprises & Allied Segment: Rural unemployment due to various reasons such as poverty, lack of education, proper training, etc can be addressed by skilling and offering self-employment opportunities like bee-keeping, vermicomposting, Silkworm rearing, etc. These courses empower women, school and college drop-outs to earn their own livelihood.
- Forestry/Agro-Forestry: Forests have played an integral part in the evolution of the human race. India holds a pivotal position in the global forests products trade with a growing potential to influence forest management in a wide range of countries. Forests find use in our lives in the form of carbon sink, recreational activities, timber and various products processed from wood like pulp &paper, etc.
- Training Qualification Packs: Bamboo Grower, Non-Timber Forest Produce Harvester, Forest Nursery Raiser, Timber Grower, Lac Cultivator.
- Dairy Farming: There is an increase in the growth of dairy market creating huge employability opportunities in this sector.
- Training Qualification Packs: Dairy Farmer/Entrepreneur, Dairy Worker, Milk Tester, Village level Milk Collection Center in-charge, Bulk Milk Cooler(BMC) Operator, Chilling Plant Technician, Dairy Farm Supervisor, Milk procurement & Input Supervisor.
- Livestock Health Management: Livestock health is very important to increase animal farm productivity. Various aspects like nutrition, feeding, breeding, disease control, etc. should be taken care of to keep the animal healthy thereby increasing the productivity of milk/meat, etc. generating employment opportunities in various categories.
- Poultry Farming: India is a major exporter of poultry products comprising of eggs and meat providing major employment opportunities for skilled technicians.
- Training Qualification Packs: Hatchery Operator, Poultry Farm Worker, Chick Sexing and Grading Technician, Small Poultry Farmer, Poultry Farm Supervisor, Poultry Feed, Food Safety and Labelling Supervisor, Poultry Hatchery Supervisor, Poultry Shed Designer, Poultry Farm Manager.
- Fisheries: The production of inland and marine fish is expected to grow rapidly providing huge employment opportunities in fishing and aquaculture.
- Training Qualification Packs: Hatchery Production Supervisor, Aquaculture Worker, Fishing Boat Maintenance Worker, Fish retailer, Shrimp Farmer, Freshwater Aqua-culture Farmer, Brackish Water Aquaculture Farmer, Fish Seed Grower, Mariculture Farmer, Ornamental Fish Farmer, Coldwater Aquaculture Farmer, Seaweed Cultivator, Cage Culture Fish Farmer, Hatchery Manager, Marine Capture Fisherman cum Primary Processor, Fishing Boat Driver (Small mechanized vessels up to 24 OAL), Inland Capture Fisherman cum Primary Processor, Deep Sea Fisher, Fishing Boar Deckhand, Fishing Boat Mechanic, Fishing Gear Technician, Fishing Equipment Technician (Electronics), Fisheries Extension Associate, Aquarium Technician, Animal/Aqua Feed Technician, Aquaculture Technical Supervisor, Aquatic Animal Health Lab Supervisor.
- Small Ruminants: Small ruminants viz. sheep, goat, pig and rabbit are numerically important domestic animals in arid and semi-arid regions of Asia. They are primarily raised in traditional manner and there is little organized effort for their improvement. Small ruminants contribute meat, milk, skin, fiber and manure and are the sole or subsidiary source of livelihood for a large number of small and marginal farmers and landless labor. The courses give knowledge on overall farming practices of various animals thus providing livelihood and employment opportunities.
- Training Qualification Packs: Goat Farmer, Sheep Farmer, Piggery Farmer, Rabbit Farmer.
- Others: Working with animals is an immensely rewarding job. It is important to get the right training and qualifications to ensure the best possible care is given. These courses help to get certified in sports or recreational activities, hobbies like horse riding, dog training, etc.
- Training Qualification Packs: Equine Farrier, Equine Groom, Horse Trainer, Stud Farm Worker, Assistant Equine Breeder, Canine Trainer and Handler, Canine Breeder, Stray Animal Catcher, Laboratory Animal Attendant, Zoo Animal Keeper, Companion Animal Groomer
- Commodity Management: Commodity Exchanges have become a crucial part of the financial markets of the economy as an effective price risk management tool. Price risk management, easiness of selling & adoption of new technologies are the attractive features of the commodity markets.
- Source: Information compiled based on information available on internet.
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