PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Pantnagar
While addressing the training programme on ‘Role of Motivation and Communication in Technology Transfer’ being organised from January 27–31 at G B Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, the vice-chancellor, Manmohan Singh Chauhan said that the university has developed several farmer-friendly technologies and it is the responsibility of extension personnel to take them to farmers’ doorsteps and play a significant role in increasing their income.
The programme is being conducted under the aegis of SAMETI–Uttarakhand and the Extension Education Institute, Nilokheri (Haryana) and is sponsored by the Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. “Moving beyond traditional and outdated thinking, there is a need to bring changes both in approach and in methods of working with farmers,” he stressed.
Noting that despite 25 years having passed since the formation of Uttarakhand, many areas are still using outdated technologies, he said that extension personnel must introspect whether their direction and efforts are truly contributing to farmers’ welfare. “Effective technology transfer is not possible without reducing the gap between scientists and the farming community. Major reforms are needed in agricultural extension and extension activities should be linked with livelihood enhancement and entrepreneurship development to make farmers self-reliant,” he said.
Addressing the programme, the joint director of Agriculture (Kumaon division), P K Singh urged officers to make all-out efforts to ensure that various government schemes and departmental programmes reach farmers effectively.
