Japanese team investigates Assam’s agri-talent for opportunities in Japan

A seven-member Japanese delegation embarked on a mission to explore agricultural opportunities for Indian workers, focusing on Assam’s youth, during an interactive session held at the Novotel Hotel in Guwahati.

According to sources, the event took place on Thursday and saw enthusiastic participation from nearly 80 students hailing from Assam Agriculture University (AAU), Jorhat, and Nalbari College of Horticulture, along with faculty members, scientists, and officials from the Assam Agriculture Department.

With Japan grappling with an aging population, approximately 30% of its citizens aged over 65, Japanese agriculturists are looking overseas to recruit farm labor from India. Last year, 18 individuals, including Ranswal, seized the opportunity to work in Japan’s agriculture sector, and in 2023, hundreds more are lining up to follow suit.

The primary objective of the program is to provide work-in-Japan opportunities for well-trained individuals interested in pursuing careers in the agricultural sector under Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) and Technical Intern Training Program (TITP). The delegation, led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan, in collaboration with various autonomous and private organizations, is actively involved in identifying the requirements for recruiting agriculture manpower from Guwahati.

During the interactive session, Director of Agriculture Bhaskar Pegu emphasised the opportunity this endeavor presents for Assam’s students.