Agriculture and allied activities accounts for about 15.7 % of country’s GDP and is estimated to employ about 124.7 million people as cultivators and 106.8 million as agricultural labour (Census 2001). Besides this Agriculture Industry employs a large number of people in the Organized and the Unorganized sector, the data pertaining to the same is however not available. Based on the assumptions of Food Grain Production and Manpower required to handle the total produced, the same is derived at (0.20 Million) for Organized and (1.95 Million) for Unorganized sector.
India has about 161 million hectares of arable land of which 55 million is irrigated. With the increase in population the demand for food and Agri produce is increasing, but the supply is constant due to low agricultural productivity. This is predominantly due to improper Farm Management practices and loss in post harvest handling. There is a requirement for specific set of skills in the field of Agriculture.
Considering the above factors, Agriculture Skill Council of India was set up in January 2013 as a Section 25 company under Companies act of Ministry of Company Affairs. The endeavour of ASCI is to work towards building capacity in the Agriculture Industry and bridge the gap between laboratories and farms. ASCI envisions to touch/ upgrade skills of Cultivators, Agricultural Labours and Direct and Indirect labour engaged in Organised and Unorganized Agriculture and Allied industry.
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Agriculture Skill Council Of India