The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has partnered with the Australian Government to implement the Australia-India Critical Agriculture Skills Pilot Project. The initiative, which culminated in a productive roundtable discussion led by Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary of MSDE, and Mr. Mathew Johnston, Minister Counsellor at the Australian High Commission, focused on scaling up and replicating the project’s success in other sectors.
The project, conceived in March last year, involved extensive consultations with experts and organizations across both nations. It identified and mapped 107 emerging job roles within the agriculture sector, resulting in the selection of critical roles such as Digital Agriculture Extension Promoter and Organic Farm & Business Promoter for pilot projects in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. Key outcomes of the project include aligning qualification standards with the Agricultural Skill Council of India (ASCI) and Skills Impact in Australia, approved by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET). This alignment ensures that the training programs meet global standards while addressing Sustainable Development Goals like climate action and quality education.
Speaking on the collaboration, Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari emphasized its significance in modernizing and sustaining India’s agriculture sector. He highlighted the project’s role in promoting food security and employment through innovative skill development initiatives.The course content for the new job roles was jointly developed by prestigious institutions including the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Mahindra & Mahindra in India, and the Australian College of Agriculture & Horticulture (ACAH) and Ironwood Institute in Australia.
