ICAR Reporter January-March 2018

Abstract

The Farmer FIRST (Farm, Innovations, Resources, Science and Technology) initiative has been launched by ICAR to move beyond production and productivity; to privilege the smallholders and complex, diverse and risk prone realities of majority of the farmers through enhancing farmers-scientists interface. It emphasizes on resource management, climate resilient agriculture, production management including storage, marketing, supply chains, value chains, innovation systems, information systems, etc. There are four components under this programme. Enhancing Farmer–Scientist Interface: Enabling involvement of researchers for continuous interaction with farm conditions, problem orientation, exchange of knowledge between farmers and other stakeholders, prioritization of problems and setting up of research agenda. Regular interactions of farmer-scientist at institute and project site through trainings, visits, workshops, interfaces, extension activities, etc. This component will create a strong farmer-scientist bond for continuous exchange of idea, innovations, resources, feedback for development of appropriate technology and human resource development. Identification of farm innovators and grooming them as technology agents for farmer to farmer technology dissemination, up-scaling and out-scaling, Regular visits of project team and other scientists to project site for orientation of problems and ground realities, Multi stakeholders participation in building strong farmer-scientist interaction. Technology Assemblage, Application and Feedback: Integrating components of technology for application in different agroecosystems will focus on innovations and feedback. All the projects sanctioned under FFP are having six types of technology modules including Crop based modules; Horticulture based module; Livestock based module;Enterprise based module;NRM based module and Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) module. Partnership and Institution Building: This component includes Building partnerships involving different stakeholders, development of rural based institutions, agro-ecosystem and stakeholders analysis and impact studies; Creation of models of partnerships; and Institution building for bringing professionalism, leadership, marketing ability, organizing capability among farmers, database creation on perception, attitude and agricultural scenario. Content Mobilization: This component includes project platform having institutions as partners and will be used to develop specific contents for enabled knowledge sharing; Identification and pooling of available transferrable technologies available with different institutions; and Project outcome to be utilized as part of content management platform enabling off and online access. The Agricultural Extension Division of ICAR, New Delhi has so far funded 51 FFP (Farmer FIRST Programme) centers under ICAR and SAUs spread over 20 states of India. In addition, the project management team comprising of NIAP, IASRI, NAARM, and DKMA are involved in management, capacity building, impact assessment, content development and showcasing of technological interventions of this programme. During 2016-17 an amount of Rs 1296 lakh was allocated for 52 FFP Projects. During 2017-18 the allocation for FFP Projects is Rs 19,88.51 lakh. Under crop module, about 151 number of technologies were demonstrated in which 16,597 of number of farm households were benefited. Likewise, under horticulture, livestock, NRM, enterprise and IFS modules, 113, 105, 45, 28 and 11 number of technologies were demonstrated and 13,017, 11,398, 4,370, 1,852 and 1,057 number of farm households respectively were benefited. The salient technologies demonstrated through Participatory Technology Development (PTD) mode under crop and horticultural modules are nursery management, varietal demonstrations, quality seed production, zero tillage, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Nutrient Management (INM). Under animal science based module, backyard poultry, selection and demonstration of improved breeds, mineral mixture, clean milk production and vaccinations were the major technologies demonstrated. Technologies such as laser levelling, soil testing, improved irrigation structures, agroforestry and water harvesting structures were demonstrated under NRM module. Under the enterprise module, the landless stakeholders were empowered with technologies related to agro processing such as production of mango based products, milk products, handicraft items, etc. Further each FFP centers designed and demonstrated IFS module suitable to their agro climatic region. Innovative technologies were developed under FFP through PTD mode such as mango harvester, which was improved over the existing metallic one with light weight plastic with replaceable blades, rearing poultry birds in mango orchards to reduce pest population and cultivation of shade loving fodder crops in old mango orchards to generate additional income to the farmers. This programme has made its mark in implementation areas through creation of SHG, FIG, Society and FPO. For instance, Avadh Mango Grower Society, Lucknow was formed to promote production and marketing of organic Malihabadi Dusseri Mango and they have obtained Geographic Indicator (GI-125) with the help of FFP center at CISH, Lucknow, which helped the farmers to sell their mango at the premium rate of Rs 60 per kg. This endeavor of placing the farmers first and enabling farmer-centric programs to achieve the goal of food and nutritional security, is no more a dream per se.