Status of research-extension linkages in India

Indian agricultural growth has undergone wide diversification in the six decades since Independence. However, the agriculture sector, which is still crucial for the livelihood of the vast majority of people, is facing many challenges to ensuring food security for the nation.

Regional imbalances in access to agricultural resources are a major constraint to bringing about significant increases in crop yield. In recent decades, population growth, declining average farm size and the increasing vulnerability of smallholder farmers are threatening the sustainability of agriculture and resulting in a situation of “too many mouths, little food”.

Dr. Kiran D. Kokate, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), presented the status of research-extension linkages in India. In recent years, institutional innovations by ICAR and other National Agricultural Research System (NARS) bodies have enhanced sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers by strengthening linkages between technology adaptation and dissemination.

The ICAR organizational structure is a showcase of institution building and research-extension linkage, covering various agricultural disciplines. ICAR is giving top priority to a capacity-building programme using research-extension linkages from the district to the national level, with annual agro-advisory and stakeholder meetings organized by Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) or agricultural science centres.

This has led to the establishment of an Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), District Annual Action Plan (DAAP) and State Extension Work Plan (SEWP) to provide technology inputs and updates to extension workers, scientists and farmers to strengthen their knowledge. The current research-extension linkage model also includes capacity-building of the extension system to enhance the knowledge of scientists and resource persons in State agriculture universities (SAUs), KVKs and ICAR.

The research-extension linkage package is still being improved to address gaps and issues. The ATMA, as a district-level convergence platform, facilitates and coordinates efforts to strengthen institutional capacities. The ATMA platform also involves farmers through research-extension links, using SAUs, block-level committees and district-level training programmes organized by government institutes. KVKs advise ATMA in implementation of their national-level flagship programmes such as NFSM, NHM and NAIS. ATMA and KVKs also organize Kisan Melas (farmers’ fairs) to disseminate scientific practices to the field.

There is a felt need to enhance research-extension linkages in India through collaboration with international organizations such as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and others.

Prepared by Suraj Pandey, Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT), India