Problem Tree Analysis for Delay in starting Agribusiness by Trained candidates under ACABC scheme

Abstract

Since independence, Indian agriculture has made rapid strides in different perspectives because of innovative interventions through developmental programmes by different institutions of the country. Today agriculture is very rapidly transforming towards agribusiness. For this gaol, MANAGE is playing a very crucial role by implementing a central sector scheme named as 'Agriclinics and Agribusiness Centers (ACABC)' which was launched by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India in 2002. The main objective of the scheme is to supplement the public extension system through agripreneurs and provide gainful self-employment opportunities to the unemployed agricultural graduates through agribusiness. Till now the success rate of the scheme is not up to the expected level as trained candidates were facing constraints in starting the agribusiness. This resulted in a delay for starting the agribusiness or failed to start it by the trained candidates. Therefore a study was undertaken in Uttar Pradesh and Telangana states to investigate the constrained in starting the agribusiness after completion of the training under ACABC scheme. A total of 120 agripreneurs were interviewed with a semi-structured questionnaire to find out the constraints and also focus group discussion was conducted to know different constraints. A research synthesis approach (purely a qualitative research design) was utilized to analyze the collected data thematically. The roots of the problems were outlined through the problem tree analysis, hence potential strategies have been proposed through objective tree and logical framework analysis (LFA) to handle the constraints faced by trained candidates. By overcoming these constraints with suggested strategies, the agribusiness establishment can be increased under the ACABC scheme.