Farmer FIRST Programme Zonal Workshop 2024
Successfully Organized
Ludhiana, 13-14 August 2024
The ICAR-Agricultural
Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Ludhiana, successfully
organized the Zonal Review Workshop of the Farmer FIRST Programme (FFP) on
August 13-14, 2024. The workshop was presided over by Dr. Parvender Sheoran,
Director of ICAR-ATARI and Chairman of the Zonal Programme Management Committee
(ZPMC). The workshop was graced by the presence of eminent members of the ZPMC,
including Dr. Randhir Singh, Former Assistant Director General (Extension),
ICAR; Dr. Prem Chand, Senior Scientist, ICAR-NIAP, New Delhi; and progressive
farmers Mr. Lakhvir Singh from Muktsar, Punjab, and Mr. Jitender Chauhan from
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. During the workshop, Principal Investigators (PIs),
Co-PIs, and other project team members from seven FFP centers presented their
progress for the year 2023-24, along with the Action Plan for 2024-25. The
workshop was attended by approximately 50 participants, including ZPMC members,
FFP project teams, and scientists and staff of ATARI, Ludhiana. The second day
of the workshop featured a field visit to the adopted village of Chatha Nanhera
in the Sangrur district.
Dr. Prem Chand
emphasized the critical role of farmers in the FFP, underscoring that trials
and experiments are conducted directly on their fields. He noted that the
collaborative approach of the FFP would yield better results if executed
systematically, with farmers placed at the core of all experimental activities.
Dr. Randhir Singh
highlighted the importance of meticulous planning, design, and formulation of
action plans and strategies for the effective implementation of the programme.
He also encouraged the revision of strategies that do not deliver the
anticipated outcomes. He reiterated that farmers, as the primary stakeholders
of the programme, should be regularly consulted to ensure timely feedback.
Mr. Lakhvir Singh, a
progressive farmer from Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab, shared his insights into
contemporary farming practices. He acknowledged the significant role of
research institutions in enhancing the economic conditions of farmers, while
also pointing out the challenges currently faced by the farming community. He
urged the FFP centers to address these pressing issues.
Mr. Jitendra Chauhan, a
progressive farmer from Himachal Pradesh, discussed the existing gaps between
institutional knowledge and its transfer to farmers. He emphasized the
importance of technology adoption and suggested that farmers engage more deeply
in agricultural studies, akin to other scientific disciplines.
Earlier in the workshop,
Dr. Sheoran warmly welcomed the participants and outlined the aims and
objectives of the Farmer FIRST Programme, setting the context for the
discussions. He emphasized the significance of the workshop for the future
evaluation and enhancement of the programme. Dr. Sheoran also stressed the need
for publishing high-quality research articles, technologies, and methodologies
derived from the outcomes of the first phase of the FFP.
The technical sessions
featured presentations on the achievements of the previous year and the action
plans for the current year by the FFP centers. A Joint Action Plan was also
presented by the Ludhiana-based centers, along with a presentation on the
impact of the enterprise module under the programme. The ZPMC members and
participants provided both general and specific recommendations based on these
presentations. Additionally, Dr. Rakesh Sharma, PI of the FFP center at SKUAST,
Jammu, was felicitated for achieving ICAR certification for his model on
"Mushrooming Livelihood of Marginal and Landless Farmers in Kandi
Villages."
