Can youths of Punjab, currently obsessed with Canada, return to agriculture? A new book tries to answer

The book titled “Concerns and Constraints of Contemporary Agriculture – Technology and Policy Solutions” is authored by Dr Jagtar Dhiman, who served as additional director, PAU, Ludhiana, and is currently the pro vice-chancellor, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda.

From the crisis in contemporary agriculture to the exodus of youths from Punjab, the book – written after extensive research on issues plaguing Punjab’s agriculture – delves into several issues related to Punjab, youths and agriculture.

The book also has contributions from Dr Sukhdev Singh, former agriculture commissioner-cum-additional secretary to the Government of India.

Focusing on current challenges in agriculture, the book at the same time also delves into the impact of the Green Revolution, the current stress on natural resources and the need for sustainable practices. It also highlights the crucial role of leadership in agricultural progress, the importance of skill development, and addressing issues like youth exodus.

Commenting on the crucial issue of how the exit of youth is impacting agriculture in Punjab, an excerpt from the book reads: “Youth, even from farming families, is now having little interest in agriculture. Not just India but even in African countries, youth are saying goodbye to the agriculture profession due to multiple reasons. Perception that it is a low-paying profession. Also due to lack of skills required for modern agriculture, young farmers are suffering and not getting jobs.”

The book further explores issues such as mushrooming of private universities and colleges which lack field space and good laboratories for agricultural studies. The author stresses that the process of de-peasantisation of farmers in Punjab, as per a study from PAU, had started in 1991 and since then it has only gained momentum. Small farm families are also leaving the profession. Shrinking landholdings, non-profitability, economic reasons are the main factors which stoke the decision of youths to leave farming.

But how can youths be brought back to agriculture?

“Tech savvy youth need opportunities to excel. Integrating high value crops such as flowers and exotic vegetables with specialty animals such as duck farming, can be an answer. Agripreneurship (integrating agriculture with entrepreneurship) is the need of the hour,” writes Dhiman.

Diminishing interest in education, drugs, suicides by head of family, lack of employment, heavy debts – these are some of the main reasons pushing youths abroad from rural areas.

“People are becoming quality conscious about what they eat so organic farming and its products is a viable option for youths to return to agriculture such as jaggery making. Biofortified crop varieties can bring better returns,” he writes.

Defective education policies are also a reason that agriculture is not featuring in the list of preferred professions if one talks to youth, he says.

“Reviving agricultural education at school level especially in Punjab needs to be done urgently. Earlier it was a prominent subject in Punjab government schools where students also did physical work and learned dignity of labour but it slowly vanished. We also need to keep a check on private universities offering agricultural education without having required infrastructure and practical exposure,” he adds.

The 355-page book, priced at Rs 650, was released recently and has been published by Ludhiana-based Foil Printers.