A two-day Human Resource Development Program on ‘Contemporary Issues and Recommendations from Network Research in food crops for facilitating OFT proposals’ was organized on 19th and 20th December 2023 by The Directorate of Extension Education, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya at the Farmer’s Academy & Convention Centre of the university at Kalyani for KVKs of West Bengal under the jurisdiction of ICAR- Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata.
The Chief Guest Dr. Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata, emphasized the need for reorienting extension approaches for Amrit Kaal and hoped that KVKs will address the emerging problems of the farmers to provide better returns. He underscored the role of KVK for enhancement of livelihoods, promoting entrepreneurship in rural areas and transforming young people from job searchers into employment providers. Dr. Dey urged on designing OFTs which should have relevance to the particular district, matching agro-climatic conditions and available human resources as well as changing socio-economic scenarios.
Dr. Pintoo Bandopadhyay, Dean, Extension Education, BCKV reiterated on the need of organizing such programmes to reorient the OFT’s under changing agricultural scenario.
Professor Gautam Saha, Vice-Chancellor, BCKV, urged to expand natural farming programs with the use of modern technologies like artificial intelligence and sensor-based drones for rapid plant stress detection.
Professor Jayanta Tarafder, Director of Research, BCKV, briefed about the recommendations including varietal development, production and protection technologies coming out from different All India Coordinated Research Project programs under BCKV, specifically on horticultural crops towards nutritional security in addition to food security.
A total of 29 Senior Scientists, Head SMS of KVKs participated in the programme.
