Sikkim Mail
Gangtok: November 23, 2011

A four-day model training programme for capacity building of extension functionaries of the NE region was jointly organized by the College of Agricultural Engineering and Post Harvest Technology (CAEPHT), Ranipool and the Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal.

The programme was inaugurated on November 22, 2011 under the chairmanship of Dr. P K Srivastava, Dean of CAEPHT. Dr. R P Medhi, Director, National Research Centre (NRC) for Orchids, Pakyong was the Chief Guest and Dr. M Premjit Singh, Director of Extension Education, CAU, Imphal was the Guest of Honour cum Course Director.

The training aims at acquainting the KVK personnel of the NEH region with the latest development in improved equipment and technologies in the disciplines of Farm Power and Machinery, Soil and Water Engineering, Renewable Energy gadgets and post harvest Engineering and Technology. The ultimate purpose is to empower the farmers including farm women to mechanize production and processing agriculture in the hilly region for higher net return and profitability at reduced drudgery to the beneficiaries. The Programme has been scheduled/drafted based on the feedback of the extension functionaries (trainers) to learn the skills around the improved equipment and technologies. The highlights include field visits, front-line demonstration of equipment, exposure to agro-processing, poly-house cultivation, water harvesting and micro-irrigation through interaction and group discussion by sharing the experiences of the trainers. The participants were welcomed to discuss the capacity building measures for entrepreneurship development and custom hiring to benefit the farmers of their respective regions.

In the welcome advice, Dr. M Premjit Singh, Director of Extension Education, CAU Imphal highlighted the responsibilities of the extension organizations particularly the KVKs for transforming the latest developments in the field of agriculture for welfare of the poor farmers of the NEH region. This is the 4th such activity on capacity building of the extension workers taken up by the University. Dr Singh also emphasized the need of engineering interventions for production as well as processing agriculture with special reference to water harvesting and management of rain water. Dr. R P Medhi, Director, NRC for Orchids, Pakyong and the Chief Guest in his opening remark expressed the concern for the implementation of developmental activities in agriculture of the NEH region, owing to various constraints, and said that the need is to increase the production and productivity of major crops in the NEH region, which being low compared to the national and international averages. He emphasised that proper mechanism to transfer the developed technology to the farmers be made through the KVKs. Dr. P K Srivastava, Dean of the college stressed the need of increasing productivity of land, labour and related inputs in agriculture with proper quality produces utilizing available energy for overall development of agriculture/horticulture in the region.

It is expected that the trainers may learn by doing practice operations themselves for in-situ application of knowledge gained in their respective states. The interested KVK and SHG personnel of Sikkim ma avail the opportunity by discussing their requirements with the expert trainers and scientists of the college, Dr. MS Seveda, Training Coordinator, added.

 

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