Technical guidance to farmers vital, city MLA Kamath

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 26, 2018: Speaking at the first graduation programme of Diploma in Agriculture Extension Services for Input dealers (DAESI) organised by the ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, Hyderabad and Samethi, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, in the city.  Mangaluru City South MLA Vedavyas Kamath said that there is a need to provide technical inputs to farmers on increasing the yield.

 

Stating that the farmers face a lot of challenges today, he said that, earlier, farmers were engaged in farming activities based on the experiences of their forefathers.  Now, there is a need to get more yield in less area of cultivation.

Dr Pennobali Swamy, University of Agricultural Sciences, DAESI programme nodal officer, said farmers depend on other sources rather than on the Agriculture Department and the University of Agricultural Sciences for inputs on farming.

According to a survey conducted on whom the farmers depend for information, it was revealed that 20% of the farmers collect information from progressive farmers, 15% from the dealers of farm equipment, and 10 to 15% farmers from media.

Only 2% of the farmers visit the Agriculture Department seeking guidance.  He said a majority of the input dealers are not agriculture graduates.

In this background, the government has started the   Diploma in Agriculture Extension Services for input dealers.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra head Dr Shivakumar Magada said it is proposed to offer diploma to 220 input dealers in Dakshina Kannada. The training was imparted for one year.