Agriculture could be the key to solving youth unemployment in Assam

While for most Assam youth, cities hold the key to their livelihood, a group of unemployed youth finds their sustenance in agriculture. It is why, in January 2022, the youth group including some migrant workers and daily labourers planned to initiate income generation activities to improve their livelihood and living condition. They founded Saffron Agri-Farm in  Lanthibari village at Chirang district and started mobilising resources.

The land was leased to start the farming activities through the cultivation of watermelon, pumpkin, chilli, yam and other vegetables. The joy was short-lived as the post covid situation curtailed their desire to pursue their future plans. Their village was badly but differently impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lockdown has given rise to substance abuse cases among migrant workers and school-going children in their villages. The youth started using illicit drugs in their village, it was really disheartening for the parents to see their children taking drugs and ruining their health and social status.

The Bongaigaon Gana Seva FARM Northeast program team engaged these unemployed youths in farming activities to provide them alternatives for their livelihood. Some of the youth leaders were linked to Krishi Vigyan Kendra and provided capacity-building trainings on farming and livestock management. The motivation from the FARM team and skill development trainings motivated the youth to organise themselves as a farmer group.

The group got registered as a society and now has a good linkage with NABARD and KVK. They have also received vegetable seeds, vermin compost and other support from the agriculture department.

With the initial investment of about ₹ 50,000/-, the youth group has been able to get a return of ₹ 80,000/- and is further expecting to get a return up to ₹ 1,50,000/- in the next three months. They have also planned to cultivate winter vegetables next.

The youth group has become model farmers not only in their village but also in adjacent villages. People are now coming to their farms to see and learn and also to buy their products. Many youths and farmers are getting motivated to take up farming as a means of generating income for their families.

The president of the group Mr. Binesh Narzary said that they would and by upgrade their farming and would continue to do other socio-economic development activities such as plantation of trees and giving awareness to other people.