Welcoming New YPARD representative for India, Yashpal S. Saharawat!

We are delighted to welcome Yashpal S. Saharawat as YPARD India representative.

Yash is an Agronomist by profession, involved in promoting agriculture among the youth and in making agriculture a field of entrepreneurship opportunities beyond a mean of livelihood, especially in the developing country.

Youth contributing almost 65% of total population in world’s second largest populated country is often debated as a bane or boon for developing countries. Yash envisions that youth will determine the direction of South Asia’s economy and therefore need to be nurtured in the right direction through better opportunities in the agriculture sector.

Yash holds a Ph.D. and Postdoc in Climate Resilient Future Cropping Systems in South Asia and has a very diversified work experience – of working in Afghanistan to USA, in National and International organizations.

"While working at IRRI, I had the chance to attend the GFAR conference in New Delhi in 2006 and attended the first YPARD meeting, he says;

"As YPARD's India representative, I hope to encourage South Asia’s young professionals and other stakeholders in Agricultural Research for Results (AR4R), and make agriculture as a quality profession by exploring newer and innovative opportunities. I feel that youth should have a stake in policy decision at all levels in the Government policies for a brighter agricultural sector.

I have taken national initiative on young professionals in agriculture in India to deliberate on “Foresight and Future Pathways of Agricultural Research through Youth in India”, and Asia-Pacific regional initiative on “Youth and Agriculture: Challenges and Opportunities” in Islamabad Pakistan.

My deepest desire is to see talented and skilled young professionals to take their chances in agriculture. This would require a Roadmap to define and delineate the pathways for cultivating a new generation of young agricultural professionals and entrepreneurs with greater emphasis on technical capacity enhancement, institutional development, innovative networking and appropriate investments to harness the full potential of youth and bringing qualitative change in their lives.

Welcome Yash; with your strong insights and multi-disciplinary approach and networks, we trust you will bring YPARD India to the next level, for better involvement of Young People in agricultural development.

We would like to thank Sridhar Gutam, former YPARD India representative, for his strong drive in giving a new boost to YPARD India chapter. Sridhar will keep active among YPARD Community as a senior advisor. Read his testimonial as he is handing over the representation of YPARD India.

If you are based in India and would like to take part in YPARD India activities, please contact Yash at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..