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COMPENDIUM, IEEC-2023   ( ISBN : 978-81-967860-4-5 )
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Theme-4: Advances in Social Management in Agriculture and Allied Sciences

Fostering Rural Entrepreneurship and Curbing Migration: The ARYA Project's Impact on Youth and Agriculture in Puri, Odisha

S. Acharya, A.P. Nayak, S. N. Mishra and D.N. Sarangi

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sakhigopal, Puri, Pin-752014
sumitaacharya75@gmail.com

Abstract

In the current situation, a significant issue revolves around the unemployment of rural youths, which is leading to their migration away from rural areas. Encouraging the development of agricultural enterprises not only has the potential to create job opportunities but also serves to bolster the livelihoods of farmers. The ARYA Project, which was initiated in the Puri district of Odisha in the 2018-19 period and studied for four years, is a concerted effort to stem the tide of migration and cultivate entrepreneurs engaged in various agricultural ventures. To improve the household income as well as quality diet, backyard poultry production, apiary, mushroom production and value addition and processing and fish production with fish seed were undertaken under the ARYA Project. The primary objective of this study is to establish models of agro-entrepreneurship that can inspire unemployed youth to adopt and adapt to new technologies. In a promising development, 130 youths have been identified and integrated into three enterprises like Mushroom, Fishery and Poultry, collaboratively engaging with relevant government departments. This concerted effort is set to provide a significant boost to their comprehensive growth as entrepreneurs. The success stories of these young entrepreneurs in the village have captured the attention of numerous Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and farming communities, sparking their interest in embarking on similar entrepreneurial journeys. The project ARYA has also paved the way to honour out of box innovative ideas of different enterprises. Embracing this collective approach holds the potential to tackle future marketing issues and bolster the overall sustainability of these enterprises and project as a whole.

IEEC-2023 at RARI (SKNAU, Jobner), Jaipur, Rajasthan organised by Society of Extension Education, Agra, India