The need for this Institute

Increasing rural unemployment is resulting in the unplanned expansion of urban slums. There is need for more on-farm and non-farm employment opportunities in villages. This will be possible only if there is diversification of farming systems and value addition to primary products through improved post harvest technology. Training should be with reference to market-driven skills. Small-scale industries and village industries should receive particular attention from the point of view of the up gradation of both technology and marketing skills by rural youth. There is also synergy from the private, public and co-operative sectors in promoting more avenues for skilled jobs in the villages. Servicing facilities at the local level should be improved through appropriate training and capacity building measures. This will also provide additional employment opportunities for rural youth in villages. The initiative seeks to address rural-urban disparities, which are a serious concern to governments. Despite the fact that education is a basic right in itself and an essential prerequisite for reducing poverty, improving the living conditions of rural people and building a food - secure world is equally important. Youth's access to education in rural areas is still much lower than in urban areas. The Institute calls for collaborative action to increase the coordination of efforts targeting the agricultural training needs of rural youth.

The need for private participation

Reducing poverty and improving food security involves enhancing agricultural productivity and production, and income generation among producers in rural areas.

Agricultural and rural extension programmes are needed to reach out to those in rural areas who constitute the majority population. While the Government at the lower level is responsible for ensuring the extension services delivered to the rural poor, often very little money is allocated to train the rural youth. Therefore there is a need for concerted efforts by the private sector to ensure that proper agricultural training is given to these people.

In this connection, we emphasize all round development of trainees including moral, ethical values and capacity & character building

In order to make this endeavor a success, Vignana Jyothi Society welcomes contributions by intellectuals to imparting quality training and also financial assistance to make it a premier Institution of Agricultural Training in the country.

Keeping this in view Vignana Jyothi Educational Society has established Dr. D. Rama Naidu Vignana Jyothi Institute of Rural Development (DRNVJIRD) in 2004 on a 33 of acres farmland in Tuniki (Village), Medak (District), Telangana with a generous donation by Smt. D. Rajeswari W/o Dr. D. Rama Naidu, Chief Patron of the Society, to train rural poor youth in the areas of agriculture and allied subjects by integrating classroom learning with field experience.

We Provide Training in

• Crop production including cultural practices, soil and water management, organic farming, integrated pest management, processing, storage and marketing of agricultural produce.
• Horticulture - successful cultivation & profitable marketing of fruit crops, vegetables, flowers, medicinal plants and nursery management.
• Seed Production - processing, packing, marketing and establishment of seed village programme and seed security.