Some people like it, some hate it but, we can’t dispute the fact that the number of social media (SM) users keeps growing every passing day.   Everywhere and anywhere, in cities, in towns, in remote villages even in poorer countries, we find the young and the old glued to smartphones. No wonder, if you ask young ones to choose between food... More

I am currently attending the 8th Annual meeting of the GFRAS - Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services at Ingham, Townsville, Australia during 10-13 September, 2017 (#GFRASAPEN2017). Over 80 participants from 40 countries have gathered here to discuss more on rural advisory services and empowered youth for balanced transformation in rural and urban communities. The event is co-organised with the Australasia-Pacific Extension... More

Last year, I wrote on World Youth Skills day, with an optimistic note. The World Youth Skills Day arrives yet again on 15 July 2017. Does it mean all world’s youth become skilled hereinafter? Perhaps no, until at every level actions are taken in skilling the youth and may be collective actions are required to equip youth with income and employment... More

“I am young, why should I do farming the way old farmers do”, says Mr Dharmendra Sahay from Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Looking at the robust crops of Asparagas racemosus and Anacyclus pyrethrum , he was excited about the bumper harvest this year. Like many others, he too encountered many problems and met failures initially while growing these delicate crops. But in the... More

The more I read on youth mentoring, especially YPARD’s mentoring programmes, the more I got inspired and tempted to mentor young people.  I remained restless until I could launch myself a Rural Youth Mentoring-2017 programme at my own institute - ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute - on 28th  February, 2017. Under Mentoring Rural Youth-2017 programme, one hundred rural youth are being... More

Historically speaking, lot many things happened on this Day -15 July. All now part of history. What is important is future & future looks forward to youth - the future scientists, workers, engineers, doctors, teachers & the farmers. The big majority of farmers worldwide are aging and youth are reluctant to agriculture. They don’t find any glamour in farming. Why they... More