In today’s world extension must improve the capacity of farmers on entrepreneurship through the l... more In today’s world extension must improve the capacity of farmers on entrepreneurship through the lens of the Agricultural Innovation System at the farm level. Extension advisory systems have changed worldwide. It has evolved from the introduction of the T&V system to the adoption of ICT and enterprise-led extension and will evolve continually. In developing countries, agriculture can serve as an engine for economic growth. However, the productivity of these countries is far lesser than that of developed countries (Aker, 2001). Therefore, to reverse this yield gap, adopting a range of improved technologies and practices is often critical (Kumar et al., 2020). The extension advisory services can help bridge these knowledge gaps of farmers and the adoption of new technologies (Ferroni and Zhou, 2012). Various extension approaches and advisory services are followed in developing countries. Especially, the importance of the extension advisory systems (including relations between different actors in the extension systems) in improving the productivity, production and income of the farmers was strongly felt as these are the indicators of rural development.
With the changing global scenario and changing pattern of the agriculture extension professionals... more With the changing global scenario and changing pattern of the agriculture extension professionals need to brace up with the new challanges. Among agriculture and allied sectors livestock sector is facing new challenges in terms of the production, adaptation, stress and other factors. Present study was conducted in the two districts of the Jammu and Kashmi namely Srinagar and Ganderbal. The respondents of the study were middle level extension officers (Veterinarians) and the lower level extension functionaries (Para-Veterinarians). From each district 15 veterinarians and 15 Para-Veterinarians were chosen for the study that made a total of 60 respondents for the present study. Data was collected through an unstructured questionnaire from middle and low level livestock extension professionals. The educational qualification of the Veterinarians was found to be adequate while as of para-veterinarians was not impressive. Majority of the professionals were having extension contacts with st...
This occasional bulletin is aimed at imparting better understanding about recent developments in ... more This occasional bulletin is aimed at imparting better understanding about recent developments in agricultural extension. It also intends to develop basic understanding about the role of extension in agricultural and allied sectors and start a dialogue on how to make extension efforts to contribute for better impact. Each issue of the bulletin will take up a single topic and discuss merits and implications.
Climate is turning out to be a prominent issue of concern nowadays. Climate change is the changin... more Climate is turning out to be a prominent issue of concern nowadays. Climate change is the changing statistical distribution of the patterns that continues over years typically decades or longer. This climate change amplifies the threats like hunger, malnutrition, diseases, and poverty, thus affecting the progress of the world. Agriculture is the most vulnerable sector affected by climate change as it is highly dependent on local climatic parameters, such as rainfall, temperature, and soil health. It is the major driver of climate change. There is a high need to prevent the agriculture sector from being a prey to this climate change. It is time for agriculture to be “climate smart” for sustainably achieving the productivity and incomes and reducing the greenhouse emissions, wherever possible and to be resilient to climate change. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an integrated approach that can address several challenges interlinked with climate change. This concept now has a wide o...
The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 2014
Abstract Purpose: This paper identifies the stakeholders of System of Rice Intensification (SRI),... more Abstract Purpose: This paper identifies the stakeholders of System of Rice Intensification (SRI), their roles and actions and the supporting and enabling environment of innovation in the state as the elements of the Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) in SRI in Tripura state of India and studies the relationship matrix among the stakeholders. Methodology: A descriptive research design was followed to study the agricultural innovation system in SRI. Criterion and expert sampling were employed to select the stakeholders and data was collected by a personal interview method with the help of a semi-structured schedule. Actor Linkage Matrix was employed to study the linkage among the stakeholders in the innovation systems. Findings: The major stakeholders of the innovation systems were the public extension system and the farmers. A unique role of popularization and dissemination of the agricultural technology among the farmers was played by the Panchayati Raj Institutions, the democratic decentralized administrative units at the grass-root level for the dissemination. The relationship between the farmers and the Department of Agriculture, Government of Tripura was found to be strong. The farmers, even though they were primary stakeholders, were not much integrated in the system in decision-making. Media, an important stakeholder for creating awareness, was found to be working independently in the state to create awareness on SRI. The enabling environment for innovation was supported to a great extent by the policies and political and administrative support structures in the state by assisting the farmers in growing rice through SRI. Practical Implications: This paper concentrates on how the integration of stakeholders in the SRI innovation systems has promoted knowledge generation, management, sharing, and learning in SRI, which can be effectively applied in other crops and sectors in India and the developing world. Originality: The paper is one of the very few studies conducted to understand the stakeholders of SRI in the context of Agricultural Innovation Systems in North East India.
Achieving food security and environmental issues become greatest challenge of humankind. Further,... more Achieving food security and environmental issues become greatest challenge of humankind. Further, natural resources are almost reaching its limit and hence there is a global call for optimum utilisation and also conservation of natural resources. In this existing scenario, sustainable natural resources management heavily relies on sound sustainable agricultural practices. The sustainable agricultural practices dissemination, diffusion and adoption depend on agricultural knowledge information systems. To disseminate sustainable agricultural knowledge and technology, worldwide agricultural extension systems are undergoing a great transition. Efforts for reforming national extension systems are underway. At the same time, the agriculture knowledge infrastructure is evolving in a big way with the emergence of pluralistic extension providers and innovations to disseminate sustainable agricultural technologies to the farming community. A research study was conducted in India to compare th...
Introduction: Adequate nutrition is basic human need satisfying nutritional requirements on a reg... more Introduction: Adequate nutrition is basic human need satisfying nutritional requirements on a regular basis, and is one of the most important pre-condition for an active, healthy and decent life. At the household level, food security refers to the ability of the household to secure, either from its own production or through purchases, adequate food for meeting the dietary needs of all members of the household. FAO recognizes that healthy, well-nourished people are both the outcome of successful social and economic development and constitute an essential input into the development process. Lack of awareness about the dietary requirements and nutritive value of different food is the main cause for prevailing malnutrition among school children, pregnant women, lactating mother and other vulnerable sections of the community. Nutrition education should be practical and should be easily adaptable to the socioeconomic status, food habits and the available local food resources generally nee...
Access to appropriate agricultural information is a difficult task for the rural tribal farmers o... more Access to appropriate agricultural information is a difficult task for the rural tribal farmers of North-East India. The number of successful e-Agriculture initiatives in rural India not replicated among the rural tribal farmers. There is no noteworthy village level ICT initiatives in the tribal population dominated eight states of North-East India, where large proportion of population live below the poverty line. Further, low and uncertain agricultural productivity, frequent natural calamities add the problem of the NorthEast India. The region’s geographical remoteness, difficult terrain and inadequate man power in the rural developmental departments make the information access of rural farmers become distant reality and hinder the socio-economic development of the region. Considering grim scenario in the region, a research project entitled “e-Arik” (“Arik” means “Agriculture” in the Adi tribal dialect of Arunachal Pradesh State) has been implemented by the College of Horticulture ...
Global attention on natural resources management and environmental protection issues are getting ... more Global attention on natural resources management and environmental protection issues are getting an utmost priority during last few years. Worldwide scientists, policy makers, environmentalists and opinion leaders are trying to address the issues in all the possible ways. However, ever increasing population and demand for the increased food production depletes the natural resources at faster rate. Further, modernisation and urbanisation process leads to adverse environmental problems. In contrast to the present global scenario, in remote corners of the few countries, aboriginal communities are silently conserve the natural resources and maintain the biodiversity and achieving sustainable agriculture by their traditional ecological knowledge, collective decision making process and local democratic institutions. In this context, this article deals with Adi tribal community of Siang valley in Eastern Himalayas of North-East India. Case study draws clear inference on tribal communities&...
As agriculture becomes climate smart, the need of hour is to gear up Research and Extension syste... more As agriculture becomes climate smart, the need of hour is to gear up Research and Extension system empowering farmer to face the challenges posed by inevitable change of climate. The concept climate smart agriculture (CSA) has been recognised by national, international institutes and several initiatives were taken to develop climate smart technologies. But still, the dissemination and uptake of climate smart technologies, tools and practices is still largely an ongoing, challenging process. Increasing the returns and benefits that agricultural producers derive from their production systems is an essential component of CSA and therefore also requires well-functioning and accessible extension advisory services. Climate Smart Agriculture needs to be mainstreamed into core government policy, expenditure and planning frameworks. This issue focuses on various approaches in agricultural extension and advisory services to facilitate Climate Smart Agriculture. It showcases examples where par...
A study was conducted to find out the level of access and usage of ICTs among farmers of Meghalay... more A study was conducted to find out the level of access and usage of ICTs among farmers of Meghalaya state of India. A total of 120 farmers were randomly selected for the study during November 2013 to May 2014. The results showed that majority of the farmers owned mobile phones as well as television and radio. The most frequently used ICT was mobile phone. Mobile phones were widely used by the farmers for social communication, contacting middle men for the marketing of produce and contacting experts on real time basis for getting agricultural advisories. Farmers also reported that mobile phones proved to be useful during health emergencies. Information services on availability of inputs, quality of inputs, and pest and disease management of crops were also used by the farmers through ICTs. Major problems in the use of ICTs by the farmers were lack of confidence in operating ICTs, erratic power supply, low network connectivity and lack of awareness of the benefits of ICTs.
In today’s world extension must improve the capacity of farmers on entrepreneurship through the l... more In today’s world extension must improve the capacity of farmers on entrepreneurship through the lens of the Agricultural Innovation System at the farm level. Extension advisory systems have changed worldwide. It has evolved from the introduction of the T&V system to the adoption of ICT and enterprise-led extension and will evolve continually. In developing countries, agriculture can serve as an engine for economic growth. However, the productivity of these countries is far lesser than that of developed countries (Aker, 2001). Therefore, to reverse this yield gap, adopting a range of improved technologies and practices is often critical (Kumar et al., 2020). The extension advisory services can help bridge these knowledge gaps of farmers and the adoption of new technologies (Ferroni and Zhou, 2012). Various extension approaches and advisory services are followed in developing countries. Especially, the importance of the extension advisory systems (including relations between different actors in the extension systems) in improving the productivity, production and income of the farmers was strongly felt as these are the indicators of rural development.
With the changing global scenario and changing pattern of the agriculture extension professionals... more With the changing global scenario and changing pattern of the agriculture extension professionals need to brace up with the new challanges. Among agriculture and allied sectors livestock sector is facing new challenges in terms of the production, adaptation, stress and other factors. Present study was conducted in the two districts of the Jammu and Kashmi namely Srinagar and Ganderbal. The respondents of the study were middle level extension officers (Veterinarians) and the lower level extension functionaries (Para-Veterinarians). From each district 15 veterinarians and 15 Para-Veterinarians were chosen for the study that made a total of 60 respondents for the present study. Data was collected through an unstructured questionnaire from middle and low level livestock extension professionals. The educational qualification of the Veterinarians was found to be adequate while as of para-veterinarians was not impressive. Majority of the professionals were having extension contacts with st...
This occasional bulletin is aimed at imparting better understanding about recent developments in ... more This occasional bulletin is aimed at imparting better understanding about recent developments in agricultural extension. It also intends to develop basic understanding about the role of extension in agricultural and allied sectors and start a dialogue on how to make extension efforts to contribute for better impact. Each issue of the bulletin will take up a single topic and discuss merits and implications.
Climate is turning out to be a prominent issue of concern nowadays. Climate change is the changin... more Climate is turning out to be a prominent issue of concern nowadays. Climate change is the changing statistical distribution of the patterns that continues over years typically decades or longer. This climate change amplifies the threats like hunger, malnutrition, diseases, and poverty, thus affecting the progress of the world. Agriculture is the most vulnerable sector affected by climate change as it is highly dependent on local climatic parameters, such as rainfall, temperature, and soil health. It is the major driver of climate change. There is a high need to prevent the agriculture sector from being a prey to this climate change. It is time for agriculture to be “climate smart” for sustainably achieving the productivity and incomes and reducing the greenhouse emissions, wherever possible and to be resilient to climate change. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an integrated approach that can address several challenges interlinked with climate change. This concept now has a wide o...
The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 2014
Abstract Purpose: This paper identifies the stakeholders of System of Rice Intensification (SRI),... more Abstract Purpose: This paper identifies the stakeholders of System of Rice Intensification (SRI), their roles and actions and the supporting and enabling environment of innovation in the state as the elements of the Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) in SRI in Tripura state of India and studies the relationship matrix among the stakeholders. Methodology: A descriptive research design was followed to study the agricultural innovation system in SRI. Criterion and expert sampling were employed to select the stakeholders and data was collected by a personal interview method with the help of a semi-structured schedule. Actor Linkage Matrix was employed to study the linkage among the stakeholders in the innovation systems. Findings: The major stakeholders of the innovation systems were the public extension system and the farmers. A unique role of popularization and dissemination of the agricultural technology among the farmers was played by the Panchayati Raj Institutions, the democratic decentralized administrative units at the grass-root level for the dissemination. The relationship between the farmers and the Department of Agriculture, Government of Tripura was found to be strong. The farmers, even though they were primary stakeholders, were not much integrated in the system in decision-making. Media, an important stakeholder for creating awareness, was found to be working independently in the state to create awareness on SRI. The enabling environment for innovation was supported to a great extent by the policies and political and administrative support structures in the state by assisting the farmers in growing rice through SRI. Practical Implications: This paper concentrates on how the integration of stakeholders in the SRI innovation systems has promoted knowledge generation, management, sharing, and learning in SRI, which can be effectively applied in other crops and sectors in India and the developing world. Originality: The paper is one of the very few studies conducted to understand the stakeholders of SRI in the context of Agricultural Innovation Systems in North East India.
Achieving food security and environmental issues become greatest challenge of humankind. Further,... more Achieving food security and environmental issues become greatest challenge of humankind. Further, natural resources are almost reaching its limit and hence there is a global call for optimum utilisation and also conservation of natural resources. In this existing scenario, sustainable natural resources management heavily relies on sound sustainable agricultural practices. The sustainable agricultural practices dissemination, diffusion and adoption depend on agricultural knowledge information systems. To disseminate sustainable agricultural knowledge and technology, worldwide agricultural extension systems are undergoing a great transition. Efforts for reforming national extension systems are underway. At the same time, the agriculture knowledge infrastructure is evolving in a big way with the emergence of pluralistic extension providers and innovations to disseminate sustainable agricultural technologies to the farming community. A research study was conducted in India to compare th...
Introduction: Adequate nutrition is basic human need satisfying nutritional requirements on a reg... more Introduction: Adequate nutrition is basic human need satisfying nutritional requirements on a regular basis, and is one of the most important pre-condition for an active, healthy and decent life. At the household level, food security refers to the ability of the household to secure, either from its own production or through purchases, adequate food for meeting the dietary needs of all members of the household. FAO recognizes that healthy, well-nourished people are both the outcome of successful social and economic development and constitute an essential input into the development process. Lack of awareness about the dietary requirements and nutritive value of different food is the main cause for prevailing malnutrition among school children, pregnant women, lactating mother and other vulnerable sections of the community. Nutrition education should be practical and should be easily adaptable to the socioeconomic status, food habits and the available local food resources generally nee...
Access to appropriate agricultural information is a difficult task for the rural tribal farmers o... more Access to appropriate agricultural information is a difficult task for the rural tribal farmers of North-East India. The number of successful e-Agriculture initiatives in rural India not replicated among the rural tribal farmers. There is no noteworthy village level ICT initiatives in the tribal population dominated eight states of North-East India, where large proportion of population live below the poverty line. Further, low and uncertain agricultural productivity, frequent natural calamities add the problem of the NorthEast India. The region’s geographical remoteness, difficult terrain and inadequate man power in the rural developmental departments make the information access of rural farmers become distant reality and hinder the socio-economic development of the region. Considering grim scenario in the region, a research project entitled “e-Arik” (“Arik” means “Agriculture” in the Adi tribal dialect of Arunachal Pradesh State) has been implemented by the College of Horticulture ...
Global attention on natural resources management and environmental protection issues are getting ... more Global attention on natural resources management and environmental protection issues are getting an utmost priority during last few years. Worldwide scientists, policy makers, environmentalists and opinion leaders are trying to address the issues in all the possible ways. However, ever increasing population and demand for the increased food production depletes the natural resources at faster rate. Further, modernisation and urbanisation process leads to adverse environmental problems. In contrast to the present global scenario, in remote corners of the few countries, aboriginal communities are silently conserve the natural resources and maintain the biodiversity and achieving sustainable agriculture by their traditional ecological knowledge, collective decision making process and local democratic institutions. In this context, this article deals with Adi tribal community of Siang valley in Eastern Himalayas of North-East India. Case study draws clear inference on tribal communities&...
As agriculture becomes climate smart, the need of hour is to gear up Research and Extension syste... more As agriculture becomes climate smart, the need of hour is to gear up Research and Extension system empowering farmer to face the challenges posed by inevitable change of climate. The concept climate smart agriculture (CSA) has been recognised by national, international institutes and several initiatives were taken to develop climate smart technologies. But still, the dissemination and uptake of climate smart technologies, tools and practices is still largely an ongoing, challenging process. Increasing the returns and benefits that agricultural producers derive from their production systems is an essential component of CSA and therefore also requires well-functioning and accessible extension advisory services. Climate Smart Agriculture needs to be mainstreamed into core government policy, expenditure and planning frameworks. This issue focuses on various approaches in agricultural extension and advisory services to facilitate Climate Smart Agriculture. It showcases examples where par...
A study was conducted to find out the level of access and usage of ICTs among farmers of Meghalay... more A study was conducted to find out the level of access and usage of ICTs among farmers of Meghalaya state of India. A total of 120 farmers were randomly selected for the study during November 2013 to May 2014. The results showed that majority of the farmers owned mobile phones as well as television and radio. The most frequently used ICT was mobile phone. Mobile phones were widely used by the farmers for social communication, contacting middle men for the marketing of produce and contacting experts on real time basis for getting agricultural advisories. Farmers also reported that mobile phones proved to be useful during health emergencies. Information services on availability of inputs, quality of inputs, and pest and disease management of crops were also used by the farmers through ICTs. Major problems in the use of ICTs by the farmers were lack of confidence in operating ICTs, erratic power supply, low network connectivity and lack of awareness of the benefits of ICTs.
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