Vol. 11, Special Issue 10 (2022)

Author(s):
Anil S Gomase and Vishnukant S Tekale

Abstract:
Agriculture is one of the major sources of the Indian economy where more than 60 percent of the population depends on it for survival. The increase in population size directly affects economic growth in the agriculture field. Over the past decade, many researchers have addressed this problem and provide solutions for the retention of rural youth in agriculture and methodologies for effective implementation of projects for rural youth. Most studies have only focused on the effective implementation of schemes, projects and programmes of youth development but till date challenged to retain rural youth in agriculture. This present study used an exploratory research design with a sample of 300 rural youth of Nagpur and Yavatmal district of Maharashtra state. Hence this paper is based on the field experience and major findings of research outcomes. The prime challenge for the stakeholders is “How to retain rural youth in agriculture”. The prescriptive model is multidisciplinary, focusing on all the possible ways and means for retaining the rural youth in agriculture and providing them handhold support to stay in agriculture. The twenty-one-point programme on RRYA - 2021 consists of 21 indicators and 77 sub-indicators items considered for computation of retention index. The proposed model is designed with the objective of retention of rural youth in agriculture.