A two-day national workshop on climate change and youth engagement in agriculture commenced at the BAMETI Auditorium, Patna, on Wednesday. Organized by ICAR-ATARI Patna Zone, the event brought together over 100 agricultural scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) across the country to discuss strategies for sustainable farming and youth-driven agricultural development.

The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. U.S. Gautam, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension) at ICAR, and Dr. N. Vijayalakshmi, Additional Chief Secretary of Bihar’s Animal and Fisheries Resources Department.

The discussions centered around empowering rural youth to reduce urban migration by creating sustainable livelihood opportunities in agriculture. The ARYA (Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture) initiative, which has been supporting rural youth since 2016, was highlighted as a key program aimed at building careers in agriculture and related sectors.

Participants also explored strategies to address climate change through integrated farming systems that combine agriculture with animal husbandry, fisheries, and poultry farming to diversify income streams. Efforts to strengthen KVKs were emphasized, including plans to fill vacant positions and enhance their responsibilities under a new policy framework. Agriculture Science Centres were identified as playing a pivotal role in advancing India’s agricultural goals.

Bihar’s dairy sector also featured, with its growing potential highlighted during the event. While COMFED has developed the capacity to process 50 lakh litres of milk daily, the state’s overall milk production exceeds 125 lakh metric tons annually. Experts called for greater support to promote agripreneurship and encourage young people to participate in agriculture and allied industries.

The workshop aims to find practical solutions for climate-resilient farming and to inspire youth to take an active role in transforming Indian agriculture. Senior officials, including agricultural scientists and experts from ICAR, were present to contribute insights and discuss actionable plans.