1. Socio-Economic Factor of Agriclinics and Agribusiness
Centres Scheme in North-Eastern States of India:An
Empirical Analysis
Dr. K. C. Prakash,C.Ganeshkumar
Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Bengaluru
Email: kcp.iipmb@gmail.com,gcganeshkumar@gmail.com
2. Abstract
The Agriclinics and Agribusiness Centres Scheme (ACABC) intends to tap into the untapped
potential of agri graduates' skills. Graduates are trained as part of the programme and are given
credit. This study investigates socio-economic aspects that influence the ACABC Scheme's progress.
The majority of agripreneurs in the research area who answered to the survey (65 percent) were
qualified Agriculture graduates under the age of 30. The social group of those who attended the
ACABC training shows no significant variance. Employed workers (27 percent) attend trainings and
explore for prospective start-up ideas. The report also advises that a system be built that is strong in
terms of candidate selection, bank loan disbursement, training programme scheduling, and training
content in order to work effectively toward the aim.
Keywords: Agriprenuers, Socio-economic factor, Training, Unemployment
3. Introduction
Agriculture and the related sector continue to be central to the Indian economy's
sustainable growth and development. It meets the food and nutritional requirements of
about 1.3 billion people (Singh, 2019) of our country. The sector is gradually expanding to
embrace the business customs at different phases of agri-supply and value chain tasks on
board. Despite, the critical issue for the future of Indian agribusiness lies in developing a
system for integrating front-end with back end activities i.e agri-inventory/ supply chain
network (agricultural processing, storage, wholesale and retail marketing) to farming
system creation, for improved productivity, guaranteed and remunerative pay, ensured
market intelligence and so on. Unexpectedly, augmentation of such extension service
framework, which reacted satisfactorily during the green upheaval period, has not had the
option to keep up with the contemporary difficulties rising up out of domestic as well as in
worldwide market, to equip its directives on agro-advisory administrations in productivity,
quality and competitiveness. It has significant shortcomings viz., ratio of farmer to
specialist, unqualified and last mile extension labourers is 80 % (Anonymous, 2003).
There are relentless efforts put in for input-conveyance during the seasons and still
tremendous gap in services prevents us from being in the front of innovative approaches
and institutional arrangements for the partners of Indian agriculture. India, a country
whose population is largely dependent on agriculture for its livelihood. Like, most
developing countries should rely on secondary sector for its growth in vibrant economic
activities and realized that it requires a change in focus from “Agriculture” to “Agri-
business”. Also, the gap in advancement after the green revolution in agriculture must be
filled by professionals to succeed in these sectors. Statistics also shows that, in India more
than 12000 agricultural graduates pass out from the state agricultural universities (SAUs)
all over the country every year, of which only 2000 find job in private and public sector,
leaving a huge number of graduates unemployed (Global Agri-System, 2009). In order to
tap the potential of these unemployed agricultural graduates towards dynamic agro-
advisory services and in 2002 the “Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA &
FW)” launched a scheme to provide them with employment opportunities by making them
agri-preneurs, agri-clinics and agri-business centers (ACABC). The agribusiness and
industrial agriculture sector in India contributes significantly to the overall employment, as
well as to value chain and revenue generation (Gandhi and Jain, 2011).The present study
specifically focuses at obtaining information on the socio-economic factors’ impacts on
the ACABC Scheme’s progress
4. Review of Literature
The extension agent 's role in improving project region dates of development in District of
Panjgur was analyzed by Fazal Rahim et al (2003). The data were obtained from 75 people
in five villages using a pre-tested interview schedule. The survey shows that with the aid
of family members, 90 per cent of respondents conduct their field operation. In terms of
output, about 71 per cent of respondents are not happy with the date palm production.
Likewise, 24% said extension personnel never visit their places and 41% of respondents
said extension staff meet them once a year. The study shows that there is a significant
distance between farmers, research department and extension. The current gap should be
bridged for the rapid spread of date cultivation among the farmers in those sections which
are suitable for date farming. Significant number of survey respondent that is
approximately 70 percent are in Muzawati favor following 20 percent of respondents
showing interest in Kaheraba. The key issues that respondents face are issues with
marketing (75 percent), problems with insects / pests (14 percent), transport (5 percent).
Kamala & Atchuta Raju (2003) led a study on problems encountered in managing
enterprises by women farmers in the Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur district reported 58.33 per
cent respondents stated the issue of non-availability of raw materials. As many as 78.33
percent of respondents found that another big issue was the inaccessibility of place of
work. About half of the respondents (66.66 per cent) viewed inappropriate marketing as a
issue. To evaluate the data of 120 participants selected randomly farm women from the
DWCRA system, an expost facto study design was followed.
Mesare et al. (2001) examined in the Maharashtra’s Konkan region that low seedling
yield (69.62%), the delay in the seedlings selling (79.74%), the planned seed’s non-
availability form (86.07%), and necessary inputs’ non-availability in social forestry
department (88.60%) were the key constraint. Irrigation facilities lack (60.7%) is
considered as another major constraint.Mesare et al. (2001) in their analysis of the
constraints on private as well as waste land development schemes in Maharashtra’s
Konkan region, recorded beneficiaries’ significant number (61.15 percent) indicated that
the problem was "lack of irrigation facilities," whereas 56.19percent beneficiaries
encountered the non-availabilityof quality seedlings issue.
It has been observed by Nirban and Tarde (2001) that in Maharashtra’s selected districts
the majority local leaders (85 per cent) had the question of the farmers ' "orthodox"
5. existence, and 79 per cent had the issue of "village features." Three-fourth (75%) leaders
viewed "low farmers' economic status" as a concern. The constraints identified by 70
percent and 60 percent of leaders respectively were farmers drug addiction as well as
related development agencies provided service support from.
Research Methodology
Primarily Indian North Eastern states such as Tripura, Sikkim, Nagaland, Mizoram,
Meghalaya, Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh are the main study areas. The Agri-
ventures were selected randomly based on its performance and its success rate established
through ACABC Scheme. The selection of agribusiness ventures by the respondents is
mainly related to agriclinics against numbers of different projects viz., Agri-Clinics, Agri-
Clinics and Agribusiness Centres, Animal Feed Unit, Bio fertilizer production and
marketing, cultivation of medicinal plants, district marketing, farm machinery unit,
fisheries development, landscaping and nursery etc, Pre-test questionnaire and secondary
data from MANAGE, NABARD and other polished documents and 05 ACABC
(successful agri-ventures) ventures cum 100 agriprenuers at North Eastern State.
Results and Discussion
Socio-economis characteristics play a vital role in resource use and decision making in
bringing transformation. These profiles are expected to throw light on socio-economic
cause of progress or non-progress of sample agri-prenuers.
6. Table 1: Socio-Economic Profile of Trained Agri-prenuers, n=100
S.No. Particulars Percent Agri-prenuers (%)
1. Social group
General 27
OBC 35
SC/ST 38
2. Means of livelihood
Employed 27
Self employed 17
Farming 33
Dependent on parents 23
3. Land holding
Less Land 21
Marginal (<1 ha) 10
Small (<2 ha) 46
Medium (2 – 5 ha) 18
Large (> 5 ha) 5
4. Monthly income
< 10000 54
10000 – 20000 42
> 20000 4
5. Family members involved income generation
<2 68
2-5 23
>5 9
The participants of the survey were asked for their age and the values are tabulated in
Figure1. By understanding the age group they belong to, they ways to approach them can
be identified and communication can be made accordingly.
7. Figure 1: Distribution of Agri-preneurs according to their Age (n=100)
The majority (46%) of the sample agri-preneurs belong to the age group between 30 and
40, followed by 22% and 32% belong to the age group of more than 40 and less than 30
respectively. (Figure 1).These findings suggest that the agri-preneurs were sufficiently
experienced to understand the purpose of the survey and respond to the study conducted
accordingly. The agri graduates who take up different professions after their graduation
gain experience in different field and then plan to set up their business. Hence, many
graduates from the age group of 30-40 take up the training program as they are interested
in establishing agri-ventures than other age groups. 51% of the respondents of the study
conducted by Yadav, 2012 belonged to this age group.The scheme targets on training not
only the graduates from agriculture stream but also to train graduates belonging to diverse
streams. Diversity in the trainees would encourage new idea generation and would also
help result in diversified business activities. The streams the respondents of the study
belonged to are represented in the Figure 2.
32%
46%
22%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
< 30
30-40
> 40
8. Figure 2: Distribution of Agripreneurs base on Educational Qualification (n=100)
The educational background with the stream is asked from the respondents and it was
found that 65 % of the respondents belonged to Agriculture stream followed by 31 % of
agri-preneurs who belonged to horticulture stream. The rest of the entrepreneurs belonged
to Veterinary (14%) and Agricultural engineering (11%) streams (Figure 2). This is
because the scheme mainly highlights the scheme for agricultural graduates and hence
large number of participants from the stream participates in the training program.
Although the scheme is expected to reach the agriculture graduates better than allied sector
graduates, results from the study suggests that graduates from diverse streams make their
participation in the training programme. This is a good sign as the diversification may
bring out new innovations through interaction. 100% of the respondents of the study
conducted by Yadav, 2012 belonged to the agricultural stream. The scheme is now trying
to cater candidates from all streams. However, majority of the trainees always are
agricultural graduates.
Most respondent are discovered as males (82 %) and rest are females (18%). Male
agriprenuers’ high percentage is mostly because of risk taking capacity and suitability to
business than female agriprenuers. The results are similar to Karjagi, 2009 in his study of
performance of ACABC in south India.Most respondents are unmarried (68 %) and
married (32 %), it may be due the family responsibility the latter count is less and the
same pattern of observation is recorded by Karjagi, 2009.In social group, the respondents
of category of SC/ST is 38 % followed by OBC 35 % and general to be 27 %. The
statistical analysis of the data (p > 0.05) no significant variation in the group. Means of
Livelihood of ACABC trainees: It is found that 33 % of the trainees are from farming
65
31
11
14
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Agriculture
Horticulture
Agricultural engineering
Veterinary
Percentage
9. community, followed by 27 % employed while 23 % depend on parents for their
livelihood and only 17 % of self – employed people have attended the training. The data
clearly shows that there is increased interest for entrepreneurship from people employed in
private/government sector. The results are in alignment for employed and self-employed
trainees by Karjagi, 2009.Landholding of ACABC trainees: The results revealed that 46 %
of the people hold small land (<2 ha), followed by 21 % less land, 18 % medium (2 – 5
ha), 10 % marginal (<1 ha) and 5 % large (>5 ha). Majority of the people holder fall in the
category of less land to small. Monthly income of ACABC trainees: The monthly income
of the majority of respondents (54 %) is less than Rs. 10000, 42 % earn between Rs.
10000 – Rs. 20000 and only 4 % income is greater than Rs. 20000. Karjagi 2009, reported
that most of the 60 % of the respondents had < 2 lakh income which is holding true to the
statement of monthly status of North Eastern trainees.Family members involved in income
generation: It was found that 68 % of the respondents belong to group < 2, are involved in
income generation about 23 % between 2 – 5 member and 9 % of respondents with > 5.
This indicates that NE has population with large family structure. The results are
supported by Karjagi, 2009 in his study of ACABC performance in south India.
Significance of various socio-economic factors on scheme: For studying the relation
among ACABC progress as well as socio-economic factors the data collected on several
parameters are analysed with one –way ANOVA test. The results obtained are given in
Table 2.
Table 2: Significance of Socio-Economic Factors on ACABC Training (n=100)
Variable Degree of
Freedom
F Value Significance
(p< 0.05)
Age 2 3.933 0.035
Stream 3 5.335 0.005
Sex 1 7.014 0.019
Marital status 1 2.543 0.133
Social group 2 0.308 0.738
Means of livelihood 3 0.570 0.640
Land holding 4 3.665 0.014
Monthly income 2 4.460 0.024
Family members involved in income
generation
2 6.304 0.007
10. It is clear from the analysis, that significant participant population are unmarried, male
between the age group of < 30. Majority of them have less than only family member
involved in earning with less or small land holding also have a monthly income < 10000
significant between their respective groups. It is interesting to annotate that participants
are all across the social group and means of livelihood is significantly different for
participant dependent on parents, farmers or employed, only self – employed people are
least counted in ACABC training in North Eastern state.
Conclusion and Implications
Majority agripreneurs of the study area who responded for the survey were qualified
Agriculture graduates (65 %) below age of <30 years. No significant variation is observed
in the social group of people attended the ACABC training. Employed people (27 %) are
looking for potential start-up ideas and attend trainings. Small farmers and marginal
farmers are generally the participants for ACABC training in NE trying to expand their
horizons to generate more income and 54 % of people belong to category of monthly
income Rs. < 10000 and also 68 % of candidates depend on one member for financial
stability. Collective analysis of data reveals that agricultural graduates/farmers or other
participants join the ACABC training via., social media advertisement. So, the training
advertisement must be published in Facebook, Twitter and other active groups. This
communication must strive popular than any other routine government notice, It is
important to make sure that the graduates who pass out from the training programme start
their agri ventures. Hence, the selection process must encourage the participants to make
draft documentation of their project report and business plan and this report may be
included as criteria for successful completion of ACABC training.
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