Mona Raghuwanshi, Reena Rawat, Anjali Tomar, Anamika and Shiv Singh Tomar
Abstract
Unemployment among rural youth often leads to migration to cities. This study assesses the impact of the ARYA (Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture) Project in Haryana with a sample size of 30 rural youths. Under the project, youths were trained and supported to adopt enterprises such as mushroom production, fishery, and backyard poultry, along with allied activities like value addition and beekeeping. The results show a substantial improvement in income and employment, with average net income increasing by 147.62% in poultry, 111.82% in mushroom cultivation, and 56.20% in fishery. Enhanced technical, managerial, and marketing skills contributed to better enterprise performance and job creation. Overall, the ARYA Project effectively empowered rural youth, strengthened agri-based livelihoods, and helped reduce rural-to-urban migration.