Capacity Building of Home Science Experts of KVKs in Maharashtra

A three-day programme on ‘Capacity Building of Home Science Experts’ was jointly organized by ICAR-ATARI, Pune and KVK, Jalna at Jalna during 27-29 November, 2017.

In inaugural address, Dr. V.P. Chahal, ADG (Agril Extension), ICAR, New Delhi highlighted the changing role of Home Science experts in shifting agriculture scenario. He said they should work with other KVK experts in collaborative mode. Projects from RKVY, food industry and other organisations may be taken up for giving more attention on scientific work and resources generation at the centre.

In his presidential address, Shri Vijay Anna Borade, PD, KVK, Jalna said home scientists working in KVKs should emphasise on the livelihood enhancement of rural women. Considering the climate hazards, KVK, Jalna has decided to promote mulberry plantation in mission mode which is only the crop to face any adverse climatic situation, he added. Shri Borade said sericulture can accommodate more rural women in agriculture by reducing drudgery and farmers are earning around Rs. 3 lakh from one acre mulberry crop by rearing silkworms.

Dr. Lakhan Singh, Director, ICAR, ATARI, Pune said that KVK’s should provide integrated technical advice to farmers in all aspects of agriculture. He emphasised that time utilization pattern of farm women, inter-gender work load, training need assessment and training course development for specific clientele groups needs to be developed. Nutritional garden at the centre, technology flow from SAUs/ICAR institutes, visibility through highlighting successful cases and interventions may be given priority, he added.

About 30 Subject Matter Specialists (Home Science) belonging to 30 KVKs from Vidarbha, Marathwada, Western Maharashtra and Konkan region covering 22 districts of Maharashtra participated in the event.

(Source: ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Pune)