digantsharma In a significant step toward building a future-ready agricultural workforce, the National Agri-Skills Development Program (NASDP) launched its latest series of on-ground and virtual training workshops across India this May. Aimed at equipping young farmers, agripreneurs, and rural youth with practical skills in modern agriculture, agribusiness management, and agri-tech adoption, the program is gaining attention for its hands-on and impact-driven approach.
Held under the joint initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and private agritech firms, the training workshops are being rolled out in phases across states including Punjab, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu.
🌱 Key Focus Areas of the Program
With agriculture becoming more knowledge-driven and competitive, this training program focuses on four core areas:
- Precision Farming & Smart Tools – Using IoT sensors, drones, and mobile apps for real-time farm monitoring.
- Post-Harvest Management & Value Addition – Training on grading, packaging, storage, and direct-to-market sales.
- Entrepreneurship & Agri-Business Models – How to build and scale Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), cooperatives, and agribusiness startups.
- Sustainable & Organic Farming Techniques – Covering composting, bio-fertilizers, and eco-friendly pest control.
Workshops combine classroom training, field demonstrations, and digital learning modules available in multiple regional languages. Participants also receive training kits and certification upon completion.
🚜 Hands-On Learning with Industry Experts
One of the unique elements of NASDP is the integration of industry-led sessions. Companies like Mahindra Agri, AgNext, and DeHaat are actively participating to provide product demos, tech familiarization, and real-world case studies. This allows participants to interact with live tools, machinery, and farm analytics dashboards.
For instance, at a recent training session in Ludhiana, farmers got to operate a drone for crop spraying and learn about government subsidies under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM).
👨🌾 Youth-Centric, Inclusive Approach
The program is designed to encourage youth engagement in agriculture—with a special emphasis on women farmers and tribal youth. More than 40% of participants in the first two weeks were between the ages of 18 and 30.
“I had never imagined agriculture could be this tech-driven,” said Priya, a participant from Tamil Nadu. “The training opened my eyes to starting a small organic produce business in my village.”
