From 7-19 December 2015 YPARD India was granted the opportunity to attend the National Dialogue on “Innovative Extension Systems for Farmers’ Empowerment and Welfare” at NASC Complex New Delhi, India.
From 7-19 December 2015 YPARD India was granted the opportunity to attend the National Dialogue on “Innovative Extension Systems for Farmers’ Empowerment and Welfare” at NASC Complex New Delhi, India.
The National dialogue organised by Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS)- in partnership with Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), Government of India (GOI), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Cereal System Initiative for South Asia (CSISA), Beej Krishak Samaj (BKS) and Young Professional for Agricultural Development (YPARD) -aimed at bringing together distinguished speakers, representative of the greatest minds in the realms of industry, scientists, policy making, media and civil society to provide a platform for exchange of information and dialogue so as to explore the different ways in which innovative extension can help meet the ongoing and upcoming challenges in agriculture.
As such, the dialogue focussed on eight major themes:
- Current Status, Challenges and Opportunities
- Farmers’ Perception and Needs
- Revisiting Extension Systems
- Role of Media and Communication Systems
- Empowerment of Women and Youth
- Private Sector and NGO Extension
- Coordination and Convergence
- Policy Interventions and Institutional Change
Among the attendants was the Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare- GOI, Sh. Radha Mohan Singh who was also the Chief Guest. In his inaugural address, he highlighted the importance of extension in technology dissemination and its adoption in agriculture as well as youth involvement and gender mainstreaming in agriculture.
Dr Yashpal Singh Saharawat, the YPARD Country Coordinator India, led the panel on “Empowerment of Women and Youth” and gave a presentation on behalf of YPARD-India. His presentation highlighted the ongoing work and raised some serious issues which require attention of policy makers. The issues are outlined as thus;
- Education reforms are direly needed. This could be facilitated via reintroduction of agriculture education in schools and introduction of diploma education and trainings of input-output dealers in agriculture.
- Gender mainstreaming through specialised trainings on women extension worker on improved practices and value addition as well as awareness on nutritional aspects to women’s how to ways of developing market entrepreneurs.
- Agri-business development is changing from time to time-youth and gender need to orient accordingly.
- Farmers’ cooperative or producers companies.
- Mechanisation
- Exploring new avenues in farming for youths the likes of future farming in cities, hydroponics, eco-offices with green walls and plant surroundings.
- Urban and multifunctional agriculture
- e-agriculture and new extension systems. The National dialogue attracted more than 300 participants from diverse background from different parts of the country.