ICAR-NAARM Organizes National Policy Workshop on Integrating Public and Private Extension Service

12^th January 2023,

The ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad organized a Policy Workshop on Integrating Public and Private Systems for Effective Extension Service today in hybrid mode, as a part of its Think-tank mandate.

The main objective of the workshop was to critically analyze the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) of public and private extension systems and suggest a framework for integrating them with implementable guidelines in terms of institutional, structural, functional, and legal requirements.

The Chief Guest, Dr. A. K. Singh, Vice Chancellor, Rani Laxmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi,  stressed upon the need for having greater interface between public and private extension systems, keeping in view the changing needs, farmers’ welfare, and national interest. While the two systems have their relative strengths and limitations, yet there is vast scope to integrate their efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of extension service, he remarked. He cited the case of KVKs as a live example of promoting partnership, wherein both public and non-public institutions operate a public-funded scheme.

Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR-NAARM in his presidential said the issue of integration and partnership has to be analyzed in a holistic view, with emphasis on improving accountability and transparency of both the systems based on their relative strengths.

Dr. Sharan Angadi, Director, Foundation for Advanced Training in Plant Breeding, & COO, Indian Biotech MSME & Startups iBioM, Bengaluru; and Dr. Ved Prakash Chahal, ADG (Agricultural Extension), ICAR, New Delhi graced the occasion as Guests of Honour (in virtual mode) and presented the perspectives representing private and public extension systems, respectively.

Earlier, Dr. G. Venkateshwarlu, Joint Director, ICAR-NAARM, in his welcome address highlighted the need for having this policy dialogue.

 Dr. S. Prabhukumar, Former Director, ATARI, Ludhiana and Bangalore and currently Adjunct Faculty with ICAR, NAARM were present in the inaugural session.

About 60 delegates representing the agricultural extension ecosystem of the country (Farmers, Entrepreneurs/Start-ups, ATARIs, SAUs, KVKs, MANAGE, NGOs, Private sector, and Faculty of ICAR, NAARM) participated in the workshop and contributed to the deliberations.

(Source: ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad)