BIDHAN CHANDRA KRISHI VISWA VIDYALAYAa

The Directorate of Extension Education, during the period under reference (2001-03) ventured into a number of activities, in line with the areas stated earlier, while defining the role being played for reaching out to intended clientele. A brief account of progress made out of such activities are listed out under following categories

Farm Advisory Services

The Viswavidyalaya is considered to be a credible source of information by the farming population. One of the biggest constraints for the farmers to carry out their farm related activities has always been their lack of access to reliable source of information, concerning scientific farming practices. The Directorate attempted to meet the requirements of the farmers for genuine and effective technical advice through a number of activities, categorized under Farm Advisory Services. An attempt is made to present the progress made in this direction in respect of such specific activities.

A. Technical Advisory Service

 

Sl. No.	Nature of  Technical advisory services extended	Periodicity	Means of service & No. of farmers
			Personal visit		Through letters		Telephone help line
			2001	2002	2001	2002	2001	2002
1.	Husbandry related different aspects of field crops, commercial field crops, vegetables, fruits, flowers, medicinal and aromatic plants	As and when the advice is sought	246	436	97	175	38	87
2.	Agrometeorological forecasting vis-à-vis agricultural advisory services for corrective actions	Once in a week	Brought to the notice of the farmers of concerned district through Akashvani and also circulation of printed leaflets in the villages covered under the Extension centers of the Directorate

B. Farmer – Scientists Interface
The farmer — scientist interface programmes arc arranged for providing required technical advice to the farmers. The programmes were mostly as in situ but sometimes had also been arranged as institution based, depending on the subject matter. The details of the subject matter discussed as well as the number of farmers attending the programmes are provided below. During the reporting period, 287 farmers attended such interface sessions, which were attended by 54 scientists.

Subject matter & Attendance in Farmers-Scientists Interface

Year	Subject Matter Discussed	Place	No. of Scientists Attended	No. of Farmers Attended
2001-02	Diversification of Agriculture in the context of economic liberalisation	DEE, BCKV	15	21
	Improved Banana Production Techniques	Bansbona, Nadia	5	60
	Objectives and Functions of ATIC	DEE, BCKV	12	30
	Hybrid Rice Production Technology	Panchkahania, Nadia	8	40
Total			40	151
2002-03	Improved Cultivation of Capsularies Jute Varieties, Bidhan Pat-I & Pat-II developed by BCKV	Naricha, Hooghly	2	25
	Improved Vegetables Production Technology	Ghosalia, Hooghly	6	60
	Sweet Potato Production as a new crop in cropping sequence	Panchkahania, Nadia	42	24
	Diversification of Agriculture with special reference to Papaya. Guava and Citrus cultivation	Ghoragacha, Nadia	2	52
Total			14	136
Grand Total			54	287

C. AgrIcultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC)

The Agricultural Technology information Centre scheme has been Launched by ICAR with an intention of establishing a single window system to the farmers and other stakeholders for solutions to their location specific problems and make available all the technological information along with technology inputs arid products for testing as well as use them at their level. The ATIC in the Viswavidyalaya is yet to become fully operational, activities at skeleton scale have already been initiated during the period under reporting. The folio wing tables provide an account of achievements in respect of various services extended through ATIC. Various services extended through ATIC, ranges from offering the benefit of diagnostic services, sale of technological inputs among farmers, supply / sale of farm publications and organizing farmers’ visit to various units as per interests of the farmers etc.

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