Directorate of Extension Education

Training

Training to Farmers/Farm Women/Rural Youth/Extension Functionaries is being carried out on regular basis. Thrust areas for training are being identified based on the clientele needs. In order to update the knowledge on modern animal husbandry practices, trainings to extension functionaries is being organised on regular basis. Sponsored training programmes are also organized as per the demand from sponsoring agencies. Offcampus/Non-residential trainings are organised on periodical manner. In addition to this, trainings are offered to the Tamil Nadu Government Animal husbandry Department special scheme beneficiaries (Free distribution of milch cows/Goats/Sheep) at their door steps.

On-Farm Testing

Suitable farmer's field where the experiments can be carried out will be selected for on-Farm testing. Mostly location specific technologies are selected for evaluation and elegance. By means of this programme, the practical field problems of the animal husbandry farmers are solved. The common OFT's are Assessment of oral pellet vaccine for control of Ranikhet disease in desi chicken, Assessment of area-specific mineral mixture for dairy cows, Synchronization of estrus in dairy cows,etc.

Farm Advisory and Extension Service

Scientists of this KVK regularly visit the famers field on weekly basis in collaboration with Department of Animal Husbandry for implementation of various schemes like ATMA, IAMWARM, etc., During the visit the field problems will be assessed and suitable remedial measures are advised on the spot. Farm advisory service is being offered in person as well as through post and mobile. Under extension service, Field days, farmers fair, Seminars, Pongal vizha, Womens day are being organized for the benefit of the farming community.

Demonstration Units

KVK has various instructional farms that are developed on an integrated farming system approach with number of demonstration units established over a period of time.

Functional Linkage with Different Organizations

• State Department of Agriculture
• State Animal Husbandry Department
• National Bank of Agricultural and Rural Development
• Tamil Nadu Livestock Development Agency
• Training of extension functionaries
• Collaborative animal camps, trainings etc
• Participation in meeting, training
• Artificial Insemination trainings to the rural unemployed youth

The following Extension activities regularly doing for the benefit of farming community

• Method demonstration
• Field days
• Farmer Field school
• Farm advisory service
• Radio talk
• Exhibitions
• Farm Science Club meet
• Diagnostic Field visit
• Line Department meeting
• Mass Contact Programme
• Technology week to be organized
• Television talk
• Guest lecture
• Farm visits
• SMS Service to farmer mobile
• Researcher-Extension personal – Farmers interaction meet

2. Training programmes of innovative technologies to Extension Functionaries

• Seed production techniques in agricultural crops
• Seed production technology for groundnut
• Integrated pest & disease management in agricultural crops
• Integrated Nutrient and weed management in agricultural crops
• Integrated farming system for different ecosystem

On Farm Trials (OFT)

OFT is being conducted at farmers field for finding solution to the local problems in crop production. OFT is conducted in Mango, Chillies, Jasmine, Brinjal, Bittergourd, Bhendi and coconut crops during past years in 40 ha area of with 390 farmers field. The following problems were taken for trials and results were recommended to farmers.

• Flower induction in mango
• Control of fruit borer in brinjal
• Control of pest & disease complex in chillies
• Control of fruit borer in bittergourd
• Control of yellow vein mosaic virus in bhendi
• Control of Rhinocerous beetle in coconut
• Front Line Demonstration : (FLD)

FLD is being conducted at farmers field to introduce newer crop hybrid varieties and technologies. FLD is mostly conducted in vegetable crops popularising hybrid and high yielding varieties. FLD is conducted in Brinjal, Chillies, Bhendi, Bittergourd, Snakegourd, Bottlegourd, Watermelon & Cucumber and other crops. More than 22 varieties have been introduced to farmers in horticultural crops.

Training Programmes

A training programme is conducted for a duration of 2 days on need based crop production technology and season oriented.

On Farm Testing (OFT)

• OFT for immediate solutions for the selected field oriented problems with the farmers' participation are being attempted regularly. OFT are also designed to assess newly available technologies in the farmers' field itself in the form of technology assessment and refinement. Some of the OFTs conducted from the year 2000 are control of filamentous algae in ornamental fish farms, low cost protein supplement for prawn feed, evaluation of spirulina incorporated ornamental fish feed, Induced breeding of ornamental fishes, Polyherbal mix for immune enhancement in tiger shrimps, sea bass farming in freshwater, cage rearing of freshwater fishes and Herbal fortified feed for colour and immune enhancement in ornamental fishes.

Front Line Demonstration

• Basic approach in FLD is to demonstrate proven technology at the farmers' field. FLDs like popularisation of smoke cured fish preparation in fishing villages, popularisation of carp farming, prawn farming and polyculture of carps and prawn farming in community water bodies are being carried out from the year 2004.

Training

• The training programmes are planned based on the requirements of the target groups. On campus and Off campus training programmes are being offered to rural youth farmers, farm women, fisherwomen and extension functionaries. Method demonstration of value added fish products, fabrication of glass aquarium tanks, fish feed preparation & fish processing methods are also being imparted. Training programmes offered carp farming, prawn farming, polyculture of carp and prawn, integrated fish farming, pangasius farming, murrel farming, ornamental fish farming, shrimp farming, seabass farming, cage rearing of fishes, fish processing methods, value added fish products, fish seed production and rearing, crab fattening and fish feed preparation.

Farmers Clubs

• Organized two farmers, one for ornamental fish farmers and the other for farmers cultivating edible fish varieties to create network among them for input sharing and marketing.

Advisory Services

• Farm advisory service is rendered in person, by post, over telephone, by e-mail and through field visits.

Externally funded projects

• Trained 200 fisherwomen through DBT, New Delhi funded project on production and marketing of value added fish products. Trained 50 farmers on intensive aquaculture in ponds and tanks through the fund raised from National Fisheries Development Board. Training is being imparted to ornamental fish farmers of the state on recent developments and new technologies in ornamental fish rearing and breeding through the project funded by MPEDA, Kochi.

Training programmes

Training is one of the important functions of KVK. KVK provide trainings to impart knowledge and develop new skills required for adoption of latest technology and build up scientific altitude among farmers, farm women and SHG women.

Post Harvest Technologies

Farmers and farm women faces problem in storing perishable agriculture produces. KVK made an attempt to transfer technologies to reduce post harvest losses. Method Demonstrations on value addition not only improves the quality of the product, but also increase the revenue for their produce.

Homecare Products

Phenoyl, soap oil, soap powder, agarbathi, candles, sambirani, liquid blue, liquid bleach, etc.

Vocational Training

Vocational trainings on Handicrafts for school children during summer holidays was organized every year. Vocational training on Bakery products was conducted for SHG women.

Marketing Facilities

KVK opened sales outlet on November 2011 in the premises of KVK to sale SHG products and farmers produces. KVK trained entrepreneurs displayed their products at sales outlet. KVK also assisting the entrepreneurs in packing and branding their products. KVK also assisted them to participate in the Fairs and Exhibitions and market their products. Also recommend industries, institutions and universities to market their products