|
Agriculture is the major occupation of 75% population and contributes
substantially to National Economy. About 1/3 of the total gross domestic
product comes from agriculture sector alone. In export front agriculture
has been contributing more than 11% of the total export. The Indian
farmers have made tremendous progress in the last three decades and today
they are self sufficient to feed one billion population besides sizable
exports. Indian agriculture is mainly monsoon dependent with limited land
resources. Keeping growing human population, the only way to increase crop
productivity with varied farming situations, farmers' practices, thorough
planning with active participation of farmers.
In the present existing research extension system, linkages operate
in top down manner instead the development plans formulated through bottom
up approach. Duly considering farmers problems, available natural
resources, research efforts from narrow disciplinary oriented to farmers
participatory multi disciplines approach should get prime attention for
strengthening research extension linkages. The integration different
components commodities have so far not been given due importance by the
researches. Till now the enterprises have been considered individually
rather than the entire farming system of the farming community.
It has been quite often observed that farmers are adopting portion
of the technology. Very little attempt is made to understand the reason
for non-adoption of the technology. So there is a need to carry gap
analysis systematically for refining the existing technologies to fit in
the current socio economic conditions for major farming situations.
At
present there is hardly any functional linkage between farmers and
marketing institution. The present system recognises middle men who
corners major chunk of profit of prime producers as well as ultimate
consumer. Hence, organisation of farmers in commodity oriented groups to
met in farmers profit. With the LPG phenominon, there is every need to
develop strong linkage with suitable markets and market intelligence. For
better export marketing, the farmers should equipped with knowledge on export quality food products, value addition such as
grading, post harvest precautions, processing and packing. Proper linkages
with markets not only improve the overall income but also serve as
incentive for adoption of high production technology and diversification
of existing farming systems.
Farmers have realised the need for diversification within their
farming systems in view of soil degradation, imbalance of nutrients,
depleted under ground water resources and erratic rains. The farmers of
the district are depending on diary, poultry, sericulture, dry-land
horticulture and willing for cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants.
Farmers need to be kept informed and training facilities have to be
strengthened in these areas. There is also need to analyze critically
success stories already existing and adopted for further replication in
the interest of farmers.
Occasionally, we come across indigenous technologies, not
scientifically proven but effective and suitable and readily acceptable by
the farmers. The indigenous technologies documented must be tested and
verified by the researchers and if found effective, be recommended
disseminated among farming community.
Keeping in view the
needs to strengthen the research-extension linkage, farm planning linkage
with credit institutions, NGOs and private institutions with the main
objective of integrated approach, devised Agricultural Technology
Management Agency (ATMA) implemented in each NATP district to bring
together, research extension, service organisations, farmers clubs and
farmers make joint diagnostic studies to evolve new research extension
strategies which is demand driven, location specific and multi
disciplinary team approach.
During last decade number of management tools have been developed
which are useful in facilitating farmers involvement in an effective
manner. Utilising various tools participatory methodology has been worked
out for preparing Strategic Research and Extension Plan (SREP) at district
level. The SREP of Chittoor District has been prepared keeping in view
studies made in representative villages of 5 Agro-Ecological Situations
AES(Click here) by
selected extension officers of all line departments and ANGRAU Research
Scientists. |
