Syngenta India, a prominent agrochemical and seeds company, has launched the 'I RISE' (Inculcating Rural India Skill Enhancement) program, aimed at promoting youth participation in the agriculture sector. The initiative seeks to engage rural youth in farming, enhance their agricultural skills, and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities. Syngenta believes that this program will empower the next generation of farmers, contributing to the revival of India's agriculture sector and ensuring the ongoing growth and prosperity of rural communities. The 'i-Rise' program provides rural youth under the age of 35 with 30 days of training followed by a two-month internship, preparing them for employment in agriculture-related fields.
In the first phase, Syngenta aims to identify and train over 25,000 rural youth, with an overarching goal of reaching 100,000 young individuals. The program was officially launched on Monday at the National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC), ICAR, in Delhi. During the event, Syngenta Group's CEO, Jeff Rowe, unveiled the 'I RISE' audiovisual presentation and book. Certificates were also awarded to the youth who completed the training, with the trainees sharing their experiences and the benefits they gained from the program.
In his address, Jeff Rowe emphasized the importance of food security, describing it as a critical issue of the present time that requires greater focus on the agricultural sector. He highlighted the potential of young people to make significant contributions to agriculture, which is why Syngenta India initiated the 'I RISE' program. The program will train youth for various agriculture-related businesses, thereby increasing their participation in the sector. Roe stressed that the program is designed to equip rural youth with the skills needed for agriculture-based employment, helping to prevent migration from villages and address the shortage of skilled workers in agriculture. He also noted that Syngenta has previously implemented several programs for agricultural development and will continue its efforts in this direction.
The 'I RISE' program began as a pilot project in 2023, with the aim of training 1,000 rural youth through a 3E approach—education, employment, and entrepreneurship. The initiative seeks to educate youth in agriculture, involve them in the sector through job opportunities and entrepreneurship, and encourage them to become leading farmers, thereby improving their livelihoods. The program is accredited by the Chaudhary Charan Singh National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), Jaipur, Rajasthan, and is being implemented by Syngenta Foundation India in collaboration with agricultural universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and NGO partners.
The launch event was attended by several notable guests and agricultural experts, including Sushil Kumar, Managing Director and Country Head of Syngenta India Pvt. Ltd.; Dr. TS Riar, Assistant Director (Communication) of Punjab Agricultural University; Dr. Shailesh Mishra, Director Extension, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; Dr. Sahdev Singh, Director DMI, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; Dr. Indra Mani, Vice Chancellor, VNMKV - Agricultural University, Parbhani, Maharashtra; and Dr. RC Aggarwal, Deputy Director General Agricultural Education, Indian Council of Agricultural Research.