GMR Varalakshmi Foundation (GMRVF), the corporate social responsibility arm of GMR Group, will train agri and allied stream graduates in entrepreneurship. The foundation’s training centres at Shamshabad (Airport Campus) and Rajam (Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh) have been recognised as Nodal Training Institutions (NTI) under the Agri Clinic and Agri Business Centre scheme of the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare.
The scheme is managed by the Hyderabad-based National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE). “Under this scheme, agri and allied stream graduates will be trained in entrepreneurship through a course conducted by the NTIs. The course will intake 35 trainees for each batch,” a foundation statement said.
Unemployed agricultural graduates, agricultural diploma holders, students who have completed their Intermediate in Agriculture and Biological Science and students with post-graduation in agri-related courses with at least one-year gap after the education can apply for this new course.
“The selected trainees will undergo a 45-day training at the Nodal Training Institute (NTI). The course will focus on technical skills, entrepreneurial and management skills, and extension strategies for the agri-entrepreneurship,” Dr Avanish Kumar, Director (CSR) of GMRVF, said.
GMRVF will provide free training as well as boarding and lodging to all selected candidates during the training period. A separate hostel facility will be available for women candidates.
“The foundation will guide the trainees in preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) that will facilitate to get them bank loans and government subsidy,” a foundation statement said. The first batch of this course will commence on January 1, 2022.