Garhwal Post Bureau
Pantnagar, 30 Jan: A training programme on ‘Role of Motivation and Communication in Technology Transfer’ is being organised from 27 to 31 January at the Directorate of Extension Education, GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar. The programme is being conducted under the aegis of SAMETI–Uttarakhand and the Extension Education Institute, Nilokheri (Haryana) and is sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
While inaugurating the training programme, Vice-Chancellor Prof Manmohan Singh Chauhan addressed the participants and said that the university has developed several farmer-friendly technologies and it is the responsibility of extension personnel to take these technologies to farmers’ doorsteps and play a significant role in increasing their income. He emphasised that the way extension workers think and act, and how they implement technologies in the fields, defines their efficiency and effectiveness. He further stated that agricultural technology is changing rapidly, and therefore extension strategies must also evolve accordingly. Moving beyond traditional and ‘outdated thinking’, there is a need to bring changes both in approach and in methods of working with farmers. The Vice-Chancellor noted that nearly 25 years have passed since the formation of Uttarakhand state, yet many areas are still using outdated technologies. In such a scenario, extension personnel must introspect whether their direction and efforts are truly contributing to farmers’ welfare. He stressed that 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 called upon all extension personnel in the state to work with complete dedication and commitment towards agriculture and farmer welfare, and to focus particularly on the effective implementation of government schemes, programmes, and modern agricultural technologies.
On this occasion, under his leadership, all trainees took an oath to perform their duties with full sincerity in their respective work areas.
During the programme, Joint Director, Agriculture (Kumaon Division), Dr PK Singh, urged officers to make dedicated efforts to ensure that various government schemes and departmental programmes reach farmers effectively.
Addressing the participants, Director, Extension Education, Dr Jitendra Quatra, shared information about the university’s major achievements and appealed to extension personnel to implement central and state government schemes effectively at the grassroots level.
During the programme, Training Coordinator Dr BD Singh, Professor, presented the major achievements of SAMETI–Uttarakhand. Meanwhile, Course Director Dr SR Verma presented a detailed outline of the training programme and highlighted the activities of the Extension Education Institute, Nilokheri. In this five-day training programme, a total of 35 middle-level extension personnel from all districts of Uttarakhand are participating. Various subject matter specialists, resource persons, and faculty members were present during the programme. At the end, Jyoti Kanwal, Young Professional (II), Directorate of Extension Education, proposed the vote of thanks.
