Empowering Rural Youths for Entrepreneurship Development

A Case Study of Fruit Plant Nursery in Basti, Uttar Pradesh

Lakhan Singh and Tribhuvan Singh

Horticulture occupied 11 % land of the total cultivated area of Basti district in Uttar Pradesh. Various horticultural crops viz. mango, guava, banana, jackfruit, citrus, ber, bael, etc. are grown extensively. Besides these fruit trees, other crops also play an important role for enhancing the socio-economic status of the farmers.  The scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kendra help rural youths by imparting vocational training which helps them in generating higher income through fruit plant nurseries.

Considering the above facts in view in all 41 rural youths of different pocket were trained and skilled for propagation of various types of forestry & fruit plants by KVK Basti.  Out of them 18 rural youths have started propagation of various types of fruits plants along with forestry and ornamental plants with the concentrated efforts and technical support of KVK scientists.  An investigation of ‘Pragati Podhshala’ was conducted in Basti district during September, 2007.  In-depth analysis of this nursery is as follows:

Shri Kali Prasad Verma, a rural youth of village Redawar, Vikram Jyot CD block of district Basti was interviewed.  He was educated up to Intermediate level, having 6 members in his family with 2 acres of land holding.  His financial status was not good in the beginning.

INTERVENTION 

Shri Verma came into contact of KVK, Basti in 2003 and requested to enroll for nursery raising training.  Programme Coordinator of KVK, Basti assured him to call him in next vocational training.  Mr. Verma joined nursery raising vocational training in July 2004 for a month.  In that batch, only 5 rural youths were enrolled for horticulture nursery training.  These trainees were used to come daily for attending training programme from their villages.

Horticulture Nursery Training:  Major emphasis was given on skill and practical training.  The training schedule was planned in such a way where forenoon session included theoretical orientation and afternoon for skill or practical training sessions.  Gradually, they were provided more opportunities to practice nursery raising techniques, propagation techniques, bed making, poly house construction, staking, plant protection measures, etc at the centre.  Orientation about planning, marketing, input management, public relations and other entrepreneurial aspects was given to rural youths towards successful establishment of their own horticulture nurseries.

Establishment of ‘Pragati Podhshala’: After successful completion of training programme, Mr. Verma was very confident and enthusiastic to establish own horticulture nursery.  Because, he was well trained practically and theoretically about horticulture nursery establishment and oriented about planning, marketing and finance management, etc. 

Mr. Kali Prasad Verma was also having one year experience of raising forest tree saplings.  He was having keen interest to produce saplings of major fruit trees.  Mother plants of mango and aonla were collected during 2004. 

First he surveyed the area and realized the necessity of forest and fruit plant saplings for his locality.  After discussion with KVK scientists, 0.4 ha area was demarcated for horticulture nursery establishment that was named as ‘Pragati Podhshala’.  The site is located on National Highway 28 at a distance of 36 km from KVK and about 41 km from district headquarters.  Initially, he thought for forest tree saplings only.  But due to higher exposure about fruit plant saplings production technologies, he changed his idea and initiated planning to establish fruit plant nursery along with forest tree species.  The year wise details about fruit and forest saplings produced are given below:  

Fruit saplings produced by Pragati Nursery during 2004 to 2007

Fruits	2004	2005	2006	2007	Rate (Rs. per sapling)
Mango: Neelam, Dasehari, Mallika, Amrapali, Kapoori	500	1000	1500	3000	15.00
Aonla: NA-7, NA-10, Chakaiya	50	150	250	500	15.00
Bael: N-9, N-5	-	20	40	55	10.00
Seedless Lemon	100	100	200	300	10.00
Papaya: Dwarf varieties	200	200	200	200	5.00
Karonda	50	150	200	300	5.00
Jackfruit (Grafted)	20	45	60	100	5.00
Guava: Lalit, Sangam, L-49	75	125	300	350	12.00
Mosambi	-	20	35	100	15.00

Forest tree saplings produced by Pragati Nursery during 2003 to 2007

Forest Tress	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	Rate (Rs. per sapling)
Sagon	15000	30000	60000	70000	72000	5.00
Eucalyptus	1000	3000	8000	15000	8000	3.00
Poplar	100	100	200	500	300	3.00
Neem	25	30	200	200	1000	4.00

Employment Generation:  Three family members of entrepreneur are actively engaged in nursery work.  In addition, two skilled workers on regular basis and 4-5 labourers had been hired as per need of the fruit plant propagation work.  Indirectly, many villagers are also getting employment opportunities in terms of supplying inputs to his nursery.

Economic Gain:  On an average net income has been earned @ Rs. 28500/annum/nursery in the district by 44 horticulture nurseries.  However, regarding net income of ‘Pragati Podhshala’, it was about Rs. 3 lakhs per annum during 2007.  Economic analysis of the nursery is as follows:

Economic Analysis of ‘Pragati Podhshala’

Year	Saplings sold (Cost in Rs.)	Expenditure (Rs.)	Economic gain (Rs.)
2003	78400	23520	54880
2004	170920	51276	119644
2005	484425	145330	339095
2006	432375	129712	302663
2007	453650	136095	317555

Future Strategy:  The entrepreneur has planned to expand his ‘Pragati Podhshala’ by initiating ornamental and medicinal plants.  The demands of these plants have increased in the area.  The major plants to be included are aurocaria, bottle palm, morpankhi, rose, satawar, neem and tulsi, etc.  He has also planned to open a sale counter for fruit saplings at road side to popularize and expand his enterprise.

Horizontal Expansion:  Five rural youths have been motivated by him to establish own fruit nursery in the area.  Two other villagers had consulted him about planning and management aspects of nursery establishment.  Total area (16173 sq.m.) under nursery has been increased in Basti district.  Out of 14 CD blocks, 12 blocks have been covered in the district.  Linkage with KVK, Basti and other government departments (Forestry, Agriculture and Horticulture departments) have been established to sale the fruit and forest tree saplings.  Contact with KVK scientists is being maintained as frequently visited the KVK (2-3 months interval).  Visitors from NDUAT (State Agricultural University), Faizabad, KVK, Basti and other organizations used to visit the nursery.  He has also learned from visitors because they advised him during their interaction.    

Nursery established by trained rural youths and its adoption

Youth trained at KVK	Youth established nurseries after training	Adoption %
41	18	44%

Nursery Established through Diffusion of Technology

Nursery establish by trained youth	Nursery establish after diffusion	Diffusion %
18	26	44.4

Reflections:  Empowering rural youths by KVK through organizing vocational trainings will make a difference in terms of creating income and employment generating opportunities in the area.  Trained rural youths will act a vehicle to transfer the concept of entrepreneurship development.  There is a need to develop entrepreneurship qualities among rural youths.  It can be possible only through organizing well designed entrepreneurship motivation training to the rural youths at the KVK.