Page:SELECTED ESSAYS of Dr. S. S. KALBAG.pdf/252

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The rural business centre should also help him with commercial information, the prices in the various markets, and the costs of selling there. The rural business centre, if equipped with the proper communication facility, particularly fax or E-mail, could tell him about his options. The whole marketing system might undergo a change. Apart from benefiting the farmer, the dairyman, the small traders, etc., the operation will create a new set of opportunities. While it is difficult to quantify these benefits, it is certain to change the complexion, just as modern management techniques have done for industry. Staff Selection If we want the vocational courses to be courses that promote entrepreneurship, then we must have a staff that believes in it. It also means, at some stage, the staff should want to resign and start their own enterprises rather than just teach. The staff that looks for security will not be able to do this job. We should therefore, see how we could attract potential entrepreneurs to the teaching job. I suggest this could be done by offering the farm and the working capital of the course to the teachers. This would give them the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge. Also, they could keep a share or most of the profits. This would attract as teachers, only those who are keen on self-employment in the agriculture sector and would like to gain experience before they launch themselves in their own enterprises. Thus, the teacher's post becomes a stepping-stone for the entrepreneur. Then we can hope to make the vocational courses popular and effective. Scope for Self-Employment in Agriculture Operations We have seen how managerial skills can open up opportunities for service industry in the agricultural sector. There are also Rural Development Through Education System 239