Farm Trials

            The farm trials which have been approved in the ZREAC and ZREFC meeting have been undertaken in the farmer’s field in order to evaluate their efficiency at field level. About 22 farm trials have been conducted in the 40 farmers’ fields for the year 2019.

Demonstrations

            The demonstrations on plant protection, integrated crop management, minor millets and other popular farm technologies have been conducted as frontline demonstrations. AEECs have conducted 35 frontline demonstrations on anarea of about 130 ha benefiting 350 farmers.

Training Programmes

AEECs conduct the training programme on agriculture and related technologies through on-farm and off-campus training programmes for the benefit of farmers, farmwomen, rural youths and agriculture extension officers of state department. AEECs have conducted 44 on campus training programmes and 43 off campus training programmes benefitting about 4826 farmers and farm women. Further, about 49 training programmes were organized for rural youths thereby benefiting about 2637 rural youths. 52 training programmes were exclusively organized for extension officers of state departments/NGOs where in 2760 extension workers participated and benefitted.

On-farm testing (OFT)

            The technologies released from the SAUs and ICAR institutes will be taken and evaluated for their suitability in the location and thus validating the viability of the technology at the field condition by the KVK scientists. Under crop improvement category 5 technologies, Crop production section 5 technologies, crop protection section 2 technologies, dairy section 1 technology, Horticulture crops 2 technologies and home science category 3 technologies were been evaluated for transfer of technologies to farming community during 2019.

I. Crop Improvement

1. I.Crop Production

III. Crop Protection

IV. Horticulture

• Assessment of marigold varieties
• Assessment of onion varieties

V. Animal Science

• Assessment of multicut fodder sorghum varietieses Cofs-29 and Cofs-31

VI. Home Science

Frontline demonstrations

            Krishi Vigyana Kendras conduct frontline demonstrations for newly released or validated technologies in the farmer’s field in order to popularize and transfer the technologies among the farming community at grassroots level. About 54 demonstrations were conducted in the farmers’ fields on an area of 188 ha.

Training Programmes

            Krishi Vigyana Kendras conduct training programmes for farmers, farmwomen, youths, extension officers of state agriculture, horticulture and other developmental departments including NGOs.

• On campus training programme: KVKs conducted on campus training programmes on crop production, crop protection, dairy, horticulture, processing and value addition, home science, agriculture engineering, soil science, agriculture marketing and also farmer’s to farmers short-term training programmes for farmers and farmwomen. A total of 178 training programmes have been organised with a participation of 7853 farmers.
• Off campus training programme: KVKs conduct off-campus training programmes in order to reach the farmers at grassroot level wherein the training programmes are organised on different farm subjects in the villages itself. A total of 298 training programmes were organised benefiting 13647 farmers during last year.
• Traning for rural youths: KVKs conduct training programmes exclusively for the rural youths in order to retain them in agriculture and to popularise the new and innovative technologies through organising training programmes. A total of 91 training programmes were organised benefiting 3571 youths.
• Training for Extension Functionaries: KVKs organise the training programmes to Karnataka state department of agriculture, horticulture and other developmental extension functionary in order to update them with the new technologies released by the state universities as well as ICAR institutes, thereby KVKs play a vital role in enhancing the knowledge base and human resource development in agriculture extension services. In this regard about 122 trainings were organised benefiting the 4557 extension workers of state departments and NGOs.

Technical services provided

            In addition to training programmes, frontline demonstrations, onfarm testing, farm technologies were diffused among the farming community through various means of extension approaches and thus successfully provided the technical services to the farming community. The details is as follows.

Table No.1 Number of programs and farmers participated in technical services

Other extension activities

New Initiatives

• Agriculture Skill Development Training Programme

In order to create a sustainable industry aligned eco-system for robust skill & entrepreneurship development in Agriculture & Allied sectors and achieving rapid growth in the agriculture sector through intensive skill development the Agriculture Skill Development Training Programmes for period of 25 days for 20 members in each batch on Quality seed growers, Diary Enterprises, Mushroom growers, Vermi-composting were conducted during 2018-19 for young farmers in association with Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI) by the KVKs of Gangavathi, Raichur, Kawadimatti and also Department of Seed Science & Technology. About 120 young farmers received skills in the Quality seed growing, Diary Enterprises, Mushroom growing and Vermi-composting areas and were enabled to become agriculture entrepreneurs.

• Establishment of Apiary Demonstration Unit

Apiary demonstration unit has been established at AEEC, Koppal on 22.08.2018 to educate the farmers on the importance of beekeeping and techniques of bee keeping. Koppal district is very much suitable for bee keeping and an association of beekeepers has been registered with the guidence of Dr. Badariprasad P.R. who is working as Asst. Professor (Entomology) in AEEC, Koppal. The centres organized various need based training programmes for capacity building of the famers based on demand. Several short term training programs on desciminating farmers technical knowledge from farmers’ to farmer were organized in association with Department of Agriculture and Horticulture. A three days training program on increase in crop yield and doubling the farmers’ income was conducted during 18.09.2018 to 20.09.2018 at AEEC, Koppal. Madhumela-an unique program- to enrich farmers knowledge in bee keeping and to provide a plotform to sell their produce was organized in association with Department of Horticulture. The center is also popularizing in-house bee keeping for the benefit of urban people.

Significant Achievements

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi has sanctioned the new KVK for Yadgir district at Kawadimatti during the month of August, 2017 under UAS, Raichur and the new KVK has started its activities from 1^st September 2017.
• Due to intervention through extension activities of KVKs and AEECs Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) technology has spread over an area of 79,500 ha in irrigation commonds of Kalyana-Karnataka region.
• Horizontal spread of transplanting technology, Pulse Magic and Nipping technology in Redgram covered an area of 65000 ha.
• Soil Testing Laboratories of KVKs have analysed 3075 soil samples and 1131 water samples from the farmers field.

• University organized “Raitha Sammelana” with the theme of “Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture and Strategies to Overcome Drought Situation” for two days during 27^th and 28^th January, 2019 at UAS, Raichur campus.

• Mass campaigning on the management of Pink Boll Worm in cotton was done in collaboration with Department of Agriculture in the entire KK region which benefitted 1.5 lakh farmers.

• Through KVKs and AEECs 900 training programmes, 90 Radio talks, 70 television programmes, 36748 Mobile SMS, 135000 Whats App messages, 74 Field days, 78 group meetings etc. were linkaged by the scientists to disseminate the technology to the farming community
• The University is providing technology backstop to all 162 Raitha Samparka Kendras (RSKs) of Karnataka State Department of Agriculture under “One RSK- One Scientist” programme by deputing one Scientist to one RSK as “Contact Scientist”. During the period each contact scientist visited the RSKs on an average 6-7 times and provided the required technology/information.

Important Events celebrated

      In addition to routine extension activities extension centers celebrated the special days for the benefit of farmers and public in order to increase the awareness with respect to agriculture, environment, food security and other issues. The detailed special days celebrated are given as below.

Table 2. Detailed special days celebrated