IRise Programme Inaugurated at KVK Hooghly: Creating Opportunities and Agri-Leadership Pathways for Rural Youth

30 January 2025, Hooghly

A significant step towards agricultural transformation and youth empowerment was marked today with the inauguration of the 23-day IRise (Inculcating Rural India Skill Enhancement) Skill Development Programme at Hooghly Krishi Vigyan Kendra (BCKV), under the jurisdiction of ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata. The initiative sets a new benchmark in youth-led agri-development—converting aspirations into enterprises and strengthening the future of rural India.

The inaugural session was graced by Dr. Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata, and Dr. Pallab Dutta, DEE, BCKV.

Dr. Pradip Dey highlighted that IRise has emerged as a CSR-led transformative initiative, equipping rural youth with the skills, confidence and future-readiness required for modern agriculture. He emphasized that the programme is translating aspirations into employability and entrepreneurship through hands-on training, field exposure and industry-linked internships, thereby contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. Dr. Dey further noted that the partnership between KVK Hooghly and the Syngenta Foundation represents a powerful and replicable model of rural empowerment and agricultural transformation in West Bengal through an effective public–private partnership (PPP).

Dr. Pallab Dutta remarked that the IRise collaboration at KVK Hooghly is designed to effectively prepare rural youth for emerging agri-business opportunities by providing practical skill development and meaningful industry exposure.

The programme has significantly strengthened the entrepreneurial capacities of participants, enabling them to venture into enterprises such as mushroom cultivation, nursery management, poultry farming, vermicomposting and scientific gardening. This impactful public–private partnership is nurturing a new generation of skilled, confident and self-reliant agri-entrepreneurs in West Bengal.

IRise has also set a benchmark for meaningful convergence between Krishi Vigyan Kendras and the corporate sector, demonstrating how collaborative efforts can generate sustainable livelihood opportunities, support individual career growth, and strengthen the overall agricultural ecosystem of the state.

The programme witnessed the participation of 35 young agri-entrepreneurial aspirants (18–35 years) from Hooghly and adjoining districts.

(Source: ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata)