MEET OUR FARMER INFORMATION AND ADVISORY CENTERS (FIACs) IN DIFFERENT BLOCKS OF AHMEDNAGAR DISTRICT:

ATMA AHMEDNAGAR has handed over the Farmer Information and Advisory Centers to the capable and efficient NGOs within each block to cater to the extension needs of the Agriculture Department and diverse requirements of the farming community within the Ahmednagar District. ATMA has also entrusted the task of Technical support, Monitoring and Review of these FIACs to the Krishi Vigyan Kendra Babhaleshwar. All FIACs of Ahmednagar District have hosted their websites for sharing mutual information among the extension agencies and farmers of the District.

BACKGROUND

             Krishi Vigyan Kendra (PIRENS) Babhaleshwar is a major stakeholder of the Agricultural Extension system within the Ahmednagar District. It has successfully implemented various demonstration projects directly benefiting the farming community by conducting multifarious extension activities like organizing skill-imparting short term and long term training programmes, frontline demonstration, on-farm-trials, exhibitions, workshops, Farmer-Scientists Interactions in coordination with other line departments of the Ahmednagar District. It has also provided different models for initiating paradigm shift in the existing extension system by forming Farmer Clubs and integrating them with Information Technology in KVK selected villages. The advisory services are being effectively carried out by providing various inputs from KVK Babhaleshwar like biopesticides, botanicals, Biofertilizers, soil testing services and diagnostic services for the farmers. A strong linkage with the line departments of the District has led to extend the reach of its extension activities beyond its existing domain under the National Agricultural Technology Project. Various extension activities have also been carried out for providing technological support for the farming community envisaging various crop demonstrations on Guava, pomegranate, grapes, and vegetables etc, Seminars on Pomegranate Cultivation. Aromatic & Medicinal Plants, Organic Farming etc.

 NEED FOR STRENGTHENING FIACs:

            The Farmer Information and Advisory Centres have been established under the aegis of Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Ahmednagar NATP which includes building, computer with Internet facility, audio-visual aids etc to demonstrate and facilitate information for the farming community in each block of Ahmednagar District. Operationalization the FIACs had been a key aspect for effective dissemination of technologies among farmers. The existing extension mechanism within the District had been overburdened which might have caused further delays in extending agricultural technologies. Following important aspects were noted in the existing extension system:

1.      Inadequacy of manpower in line departments.

2.      Non-technical nature of responsibilities for field level staff.

3.      Limitations of the field level extension functionaries to address ground level crop problems.

4.      Top down extension approach.

5.      Excessive workload on field level staff.

It was therefore decided by ATMA to handover the FIACs to the NGOs already conducting different extension services for the farming community. Appropriate and worthy NGOs were selected after assessing their efficiency, manpower and infrastructure etc in different blocks. Consequently 12 out 13 FIACs are being operated by different NGOs and only one FIAC is being operated by the Department of Agriculture.

PROBLEMS FACED BY FIAC OPERATORS:

Most of the NGOs that were given the responsibility of operating the FIAC were novice and there was a substantial need for streamlining and operationalizing these FIACs within each block. Following problems and shortcomings were noted among the NGO operators:

1. Delays in handover of building, telephone and other infrastructure to the FIAC operators from the concerned

    Taluka Agricultural Offices.

2. Poor documentation and record keeping.

3. Need assessment and programme focus on extension activities.

4. Poor manpower allocation for different mandated extension activities.

5. Poor participation from farmers due to lack of substantial need oriented services and activities.

6. Lack of technical expertise in certain identified production areas like Rainfed cropping system, Pomegranate &

    Vegetable growing, Organic Farming system, Livestock & Dairying, IPM etc.

7. Poor computer based information services due to lack of telephone and Internet connectivity.

8. Lack of appropriate reporting, review and monitoring system.

9. Poor utilization of resources at FIAC level.

10.Poor coordination of FAC-BTT with FIACs

11.Lack of any feedback and information delivery system among FIACs.

12.Poor accounts management & inventory control.

Realizing the need for streamlining and operationalizing these FIACs in each block, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Babhaleshwar was entrusted the task of strengthening and operationalizing these FIACs through an elaborate and comprehensive program through the project entitled “Strengthening of FIACs in Ahmednagar District”

Objectives:

            The KVK has undertaken activities for the FIAC operators for following purposes:

1.      To work as continuous resource organization for FIACs for extending all technical support.

2.      To act as consultant for FIACs for providing solutions to the problems regarding

a.      Building their rapport with farmer

b.      Identification & Implementation of local need based programs and activities.

c.      Help build up services and inputs.

3.      To help forge a better integration with the line departments.

4.      To provide backup support for the FIAC operators for successful operations within the respective areas.

5.      To help develop human resources through people’s participatory programmes.

6.      To build up rapport with FIACs for providing extension services in respective Talukas.

7.      To develop human resources in the identified areas through exposure visits.

8.      To develop communication and technology delivery among FIAC operators through maximum utilization of Information Technology.

9.      To develop a better feedback and information delivery system within Ahmednagar District.

Activities Undertaken:

Following activities were undertaken by the KVK for the operators of the FIACs to facilitate the extension services in each tehsil. The activities were primarily targeted towards augmenting efficiency in rendering information, advisory and consultancy services at each FIAC.

Besides these technical inputs from the KVK the FIACs were also facilitated to perform better and coordinated action programmes by conducting FAC and BTT meetings regularly in each Taluka.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION:

            The KVK Babhaleshwar has undertaken the evaluation for effective operation of FIACs within the district at regular intervals and to extend useful inputs so that the FIACs function smoothly. The monitoring and evaluation has been undertaken by a Monitoring Team constituted for the purpose which comprised the following:

1. Mr DL Tambale, PD, ATMA, Ahmednagar

2. Mr Arun Kamble, Dy. PD, ATMA Ahmednagar

3. Mr Purushottam Hendre, Scientist (Horticulture), KVK Babhaleshwar

4. Mr Sunil Borude, Scientist (Extension), KVK Babhaleshwar

5. Mr Shantaram Sonawane, Soil Scientist, KVK Babhaleshwar

The team of KVK scientists has conducted regular visits to each FIAC in every month. Comprehensive technical backup through training and HRD activities was provided to the FIACs and regular follow up was undertaken to monitor the performance of extension activities conducted by each FIAC.

IMPACT OF KVK's INTERVENTION ON OPERATIONALIZATION OF FIACs IN AHMEDNAGAR DISTRICT

NETWORKING FIAC UNITS IN AHMEDNAGAR DISTRICT UNDER NATP

SIXTH REPORT OF FIACs

FIFTH REPORT OF FIACs

FOURTH REPORT OF FIACs

THIRD REPORT OF FIACs

SECOND REPORT OF FIAC