State specific crop/animal species for higher productivity in NE
- Part 5 -

Angad Prasad / Indira Sarangthem / Daya Ram *

EXTENSION STRATEGIES TO CREATE AWARENESS AND ADOTPION OF JOB AVENUE AMONG THE RURAL YOUTH

As elaborated above, we should emphasize upon the various ways and means to attract rural youth for their adoption and making them as most remunerative avenue to their livelihood taking into consideration the only two major agricultural and animal husbandry entities having much demand in the north eastern region:

Ø Use of print & electronic media for periodic awareness:

The farmers’ welfare activities, publications, seasonal agricultural information and other facilities being served to the farmers should be disseminated in time. \If possible, a date should be fixed to upload those information on the website of the University and college concerned. Such information should be brought in farmers’ notice through radio, TV and local daily.

In case of inputs – seeds, breeds of poultry and cattle, pigs and fish seeds, if farmers are informed with full details along with their benefit, definitely they will come to take. Thus, the adoption of new technology will be multiplied within a short span of time.

Ø Seeking cooperation between all land-based departments: The major activities of extension service is borne by the state land based departments, whereas University has to work as front-line guide, therefore, a congenial rapport between all such departments is necessary for providing the desired benefit to the farmers and rural youth.

The Central Agricultural University, Imphal has constituted an Extension Education Council, in which, major departments of the seven states of the north eastern region falling under the jurisdiction of the University are members.

In addition, two farmers’ representatives/social workers are also members. The University conducts annual meetings where all members should take part so that facilities and extension services for the farmers would be known which in turn help the states for executing the extension services to the farmers.

In the same fashion, all constituent colleges have College Extension Education Committee, where all land-based department of the State, farmers’ representatives/social workers are members; Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) have Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) consisting of all heads of the land-based departments, representatives of the district concerned are members.

They must represent in the meeting usually convened once a year. Such cooperation will help in quick delivery of information, services required and further improvement in the system of extension education of the University.

Ø Emphasis on demonstration: Among the different means of educating the farmers, demonstration has the most important place. By seeing the result, process or method, people get accurate knowledge as well as evidence of the benefit of technology demonstrated. It helps them to a great extent to adopt.

The concept of Front Line demonstration being conducted by agricultural universities and KVKs has come to support this philosophy. If concerned land-based departments are informed and their cooperation/participation is also seen, technology transfer gets momentum.

Ø Organization of vocational training: With the help of state land-based departments and gram panchayats, needing, desirous and educated unemployed rural youth should be selected and after their need assessment, they can be trained in specific rural vocations or for growing any cash crop as mentioned above at Vocational Training Centres established in each state of the University.

For specialized training in fisheries, College of Fisheries, CAU, Agartala has been strengthened as a centre of excellence, where youth can be trained in aquaculture, fish breeding, prawn culture and fish processing and preservation. The farmers and youth of the region may be guided to get technical advice/training at KVKs established in each district.

This is also a fact that training facilities cannot be provided in mass, therefore, some youth having leading capacity may be trained, who may be used as local trained resources for providing training and guidance to other fellow farmers/youth.

Likewise, College of Veterinary Sciences & A.H. Situated at Aizawl (Mizoram), Jalukie (Nagaland) and College of Agril. Engg. & PHT, Gangtok may train the farmers and rural youth for animal rearing, dairy management and food processing etc. The trained youth may start their own enterprise and get a handsome income.

Ø Participatory mode for selection of needy rural youth:

For making Atma Nirbhar Bharat, utmost care has to be taken for selecting rural youth and providing them appropriate training. Usually, names and lists of candidates are asked by training institutions and without assessing their background and interest, formality of training is completed, which leads to wastage of money and time.

If selection of rural youth is done in participatory mode involving state departments, local bodies, training institutions and candidates, real and right youth are selected. Selection of candidates should be free from any bias.

Ø Regular technological back-up: This is a very important point to see critically the self-employed candidates who have been trained and started their own business. If such young persons are visited regularly by a team of experts, service providing agencies and training institutions, they are encouraged and sustained in their enterprise. During the visit, technical advice is given to improve the on-going business or enterprise.

Ø Networking of trained youth and follow-up action: Gull address, contact details, qualification, name of occupation etc about a candidate being trained at any training institution should be recorded properly. Such a type of follow-up activity should be done periodically.

This information should be shared with the concerned state department so that he/she can be supervised to avoid the business drop out. Unfortunately, most of the training institutions are overloaded and due to lack of intra and inter-organizational cooperation, this follow up is not properly done which needs to be improved for the welfare of the rural youth.

Ø Promotion of SHGs and Cooperative marketing: It is the urgent need of the rural area. Self Help Groups eradicate the barrier of finance and resource poor rural youth can avail loan to establish any agri business of their choice. Production of agri-based items is important but the regular supply on high rate is more important.

If a proper market is made available to the entrepreneur, he gets assurance for the disposal of his produce and thus, his income can be sustained. Since, the north eastern region is a comparatively backward area, provision of cooperative marketing may boost the pace of rural economy.

Ø Organization of progressive farms/entrepreneur/institution visit: Some of the progressive farmers in this region are doing excellent work and through agri-business and by adopting farm activities, they are gaining lakhs of rupees.

In Manipur, Mr. Devkanta Singh, a national awardee and black scented rice grower is the best example. Exposure visits of rural youth willing to adopt black scented rice can be trained and they can be shown the farm of progressive farmers. It will infuse a sense of confidence among the youth and adoption of economic activity will be increased.

Ø Introduction of awards and incentives: Giving away prizes and awards to successful entrepreneurs acts as the most effective means to encourage the youth who are self-employed. This also becomes a source of interest creation among the fellow young persons to initiate such a source of livelihood.

For this purpose, ICAR and the State Department of Agriculture usually provide awards to selected agri-entrepreneurs/farmers at national and state level every year.

Concluded ...

For further details contact: -
Public Relations& Media Management Cell,
CAU, Imphal.
Email: [email protected]