Vol. 9, Special Issue 9 (2020)

Author(s):
Pranoy Ray, Radhashyam Panigrahi, BP Mohapatra and Jeebanjyoti Behera

Abstract:
Rural youth which constitutes 41 per cent of total population in India, forms a major target group for policy makers for agricultural development perspective in rural areas. Agripreneurship is being promoted as a strategy to improve the employment scenario among youth. This paper investigates the constraints associated with youth agripreneurship in Odisha. The study was conducted in five agro-climatic zones of Odisha state. The purposive random sampling method was followed for the selection of respondents which includes 250 farm youths from five districts. The data was collected with the help of self-structured interview schedule and focus group discussions. Then the constraint analysis was carried out by using Garrett’s ranking method. The findings of this study revealed that the farm youths face severe constraints which acts as barrier in their success of agri-enterprise. This study addresses the hurdles for farm youth who are potent force and their dissociation from farming will deprive the sector from next generation successor. These major constraints need to be rectified and a larger enabling environment in the sector is needed, to support young farmers who cannot leave the agriculture sector and rather attract more youth.