AGRICLINICS AND AGRIBUSINESS CENTRE
INTRODUCTION:
With the diversification and modernisation of agricultural practices, there is a need to augment support and extension services for agriculture. For this purpose, a scheme for setting up agriclinics and agribusiness centres by agriculture graduates has been launched by GoI with the support of NABARD. These centres will provide a package of input facilities, consultancy and other services. They will strengthen transfer of technology and extension services and also provide self employment opportunities to technically trained persons.

BACKGROUND OF THE SCHEME:

There are 11,900 graduates from agriculture and allied sectors passing out from agricultural universities in India. However, only 2000 are able to get employment in Government/Private sectors. Thus there remains a vast pool of around 9900 graduates in the country who can support and boost agricultural production process if viable business opportunities are provided to them. On the other hand there exists an agricultural extension system which is fast shrinking resulting in wide extension gaps between those who require improved technologies and those who generate them.Thus in the aftermath of this wide extension gap and the vast pool of unemployed agriculture pass outs remains to be tapped to provide support to the extension system and ultimately to help improve agricultural productivity. This gave birth to a unique and ambitions scheme to address the twin objectives through the agri clinic and agri business centers scheme. OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME:

1. To supplement the efforts of Government extension system
2. To make available supplementary sources of input supply and services for the farmers.
3. To provide gainful employment to agricultural graduates in emerging areas of agricultural sector.

AGRICLINICS:

Agriclinics are