Directorate of Extension (Agriculture)

• August 2024 - Scientific Management of Rice on 21st August 2024 with 129 participants from 23 districts
• September 2024 - Scientific Cultivation of Winter Vegetables on 21st September 2024 with 120 participants across Assam
• October 2024 – Crop Management in Oilseed and Pulses on 21st September 2024 with 127 participants across Assam
• November 2024 – Improved Managemental practices for Livestock and Poultry Rearing

Rice fallow areas offer good scope for crop intensification and diversification and their proper utilization can help overcome many social and economic problems like unemployment, labour migration and low income. These areas can be utilized for cultivation of suitable pulse crops like lentil, lathyrus, field pea, rajmah, chick pea as well as oilseeds like rapeseed and mustard, niger, linseed etc. during rabi seasons after Sali rice.

Keeping these objectives a Mega Programme on “Promotion of Double Cropping in the state of Assam” is in progress, covering 23 districts of Assam. Twenty three KVKs along with seven research stations of AAU are actively involved in this massive programme. Under this 800 ha and 200 ha of land area is being undertaken by KVKs and research stations, respectively. To facilitate double cropping, a medium duration varieties like Numoli and Dholi was selected under this programme so that the rice areas become ready for the second crop early. Till date, the first crop, i.e. rice is under harvesting with a bumper crop and land preparation and sowing of the second crop, i.e Toria, Lentil, Rajmah and Linseed is in progress.

Last year one village each from 23 districts were selected as ICT enabled village where in a considerable no of farmers, Rural youth, entrepreneur are periodically advised in Agriculture and Allied areas. Hands on training on Use of Agri. Apps, Cyber Security, Mobile Banking, Use of Chat Bot, etc. were imparted.

A three-day orientation workshop for newly recruited KVK personnels held on 24-27 March 2024, where in the newly recruited SMS, PA, FM and PA(C) were extensively trained on the KVK mandates activities, financial management and personality corelated of Socioeconomic intelligent along with an exposure visit to KVK Jorhat were organized.

Two-day interface between KVK Heads and NEATEHub official was organised on 4-5th April 2024 for exploring initiatives for establishment of Incubation Centres at KVK.

Two-day training for OSA/ Assistant and JSCO of KVKs was held on 05-06 April, 2024, where in hands on training on e-file management System (eFMS), Procurement through GeM, PFMS, GFR and other tools of financial management was imparted.

The programme, funded by Assam State Bamboo Mission aims at planting of bamboo in Block and/or boundary of farmers’ fields with a view to promote agro-forestry, support cottage industries apart from bamboo’s potential to combat climate change. Block/Boundary plantation of bamboo was conducted in eight districts in two phases (28.5 ha in Phase I and 71.5 ha in Phase II). The districts involved were Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Udalguri, Morigaon and Cachar. Focus was given to those areas which are vulnerable to flood and erosion. Awareness camps and training programmes were also organized to emphasize the importance of bamboo in erosion control and its potential to combat climate change through carbon sequestration.

A five day training programme, sponsored by Extension Education Institute, AAU on the above subject was organized involving 30 entrepreneurs involved in the production of Bio-Inputs from across NE India w.e.f. 18th to 22nd January, 2024. The training focused on production, use and marketing of bio-inputs in the farms and include production of vermicompost, enriched compost, biopesticides. The training also focused on creating a network of entrepreneurs of the region.

A training for Master Trainers was held on 08th March, 2024 with an initiative of Setting up of Mushroom Cultivation and Packaging unit was organized in collaboration with Krishtir Kothia, NGO. The progrtamme was sponsored by ONGC under its CSR Programme.

Since decades, Radio has proved to be an effective tool in dissemination of agricultural technology to the farming community. To mark this, a Radio Kisan Diwas was organized on 15th January 2024 involving Farmers, Rural Youth and Entrepreneurs. The programme was organized buy All India Radio, Jorhat in collaboration with the Directorate of Extension Education, AAU, Jorhat and the tota number of participants was 40.

A 21 days training programme from 4th to 26th April, 2024 on Mental Health Counselling in the online mode was participated by 21 Extension personnel under this Directorate. The programme was organized by Centre of Social Change, Noida.

As per MoU with BKWAC, a two day hands on training programme was organized successfully from 04-05^th July, 2024 to selected master trainers of Burhabhokot, Jaljali, Ghorapar, Halikuchi, Sisupani and Uriamghat. These master trainers will train fellow farmers and rural youth and start mushroom production in those areas.

A Refresher Training programme to Scientists was held under the sponsorship from the project funded by ICAR-IGFRI, Jhansi, wherein 19 SMS, Programme Assistants and Farm Managers actively took part. Focus on establishment of fodder cafeteria in KVK, poularization of fodder species through distribution and cultivation of fodder planting material was emphasized during the programme. Accordingly fodder cafeteria were established in the project implementation districts. Another training was also organized for the farmers and entrepreneurs on 26.09.2024 on the same subject. These farmers will act as master trainers for training of fellow farmers, rural youth and farm women in this initiative of fodder popularization.

A quarterly monitoring visit of the KVK scientists was done by DoEE scientists to KVKs. Two groups were assigned different KVKs to visit. Dr. Rupjyoti Borah and Dr. Bhrigu Neog visited Karbi Anglong, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Barpeta, Chirang, Kokrajhar, Dhubri and Bongaigaon KVKs in the month of September. The scientists visited the demonstration sites, office farms, project sites, interacted with farmers & scientists and extended suggestions for improvement, wherever required.

• • Within 2 years of notification, Submergence tolerant rice varieties Ranjit Sub-1 and Bahadur Sub 1 have spread in an estimated area of about 2 lakh ha with a productivity of about 40 q/ha
• • Spread of new Medium duration varieties like Shraboni, Numoli and mustard and toria varieties like TS 36, TS 38, TS 46, TS 67, NRCHB 101 contributed to spectacular increase in double cropped area.
• • New Poultry breeds like Kalinga Brown, Vanaraja, Rainbow Rooster, Kamrupa, BV-300 & 380, Duck breeds like Khaki Campbell an White Pekin, Sara Chemballi, Turkey, Cross Bred Beetal Goat and Pig Breeds like HDK-75, Hampshire and Yorkshire etc. have spread very extensively throughout the state
• • Significant increase in the production of bioinputs in agriculture, particularly vermicompost
• • Production and dissemination of quality seed of crops and livestock and planting materials : enhanced farmers’ access to improved varieties and quality seeds
• • New Fruit crops like Dragon Fruit, Strawberry and Apple ber have been introduced and popularized throughout the state
• • Altogether 18 FPO/FPC are being mentored by the KVKs as local CBBO (part of AAU as CBBO). Besides, AAU has entered into MoU with 34 different FPOs/FPCs being promoted by APART for providing technical support by the KVKs. Besides 25 nos. of new FPOs have been established with financial support of NABARD. In addition, the KVKs also helped several other FPCs/FPOs for their registration and management.