Vol. 16 No. 1
Convergence of dynamic extension approaches for promoting bajra napier hybrid among the livestock farmers :a success story in Uttar Pradesh
Author(s): P.K. MUKHERJEE, B.P. SINGH AND M. CHANDER
Abstract: India ranks first among the world’s milk producing nations and among the states, Uttar Pradesh (UP) contributes maximum percentage share (16.5%) in total milk production of India. However, the productivity of livestock in UP is very poor in comparison to Punjab. In the key issues of livestock production, lack of availability of quality green fodder is important for livestock productivity and infertility problems. The fodder production in the country is not sufficient to meet the requirements and the country faces a net deficit of 33.10% green fodder and 11.41% dry crop residues.For improving green fodder availability, ICAR-IVRI has taken up an action research for promoting perennial green fodderBajra Napier Hybrid (B-N Hybrid) among the livestock farmers. Convergence of dynamic extension approaches like awareness and training, participatory selection of varieties, exposure visit to the demonstration plots, distribution of planting materials, crop establishment and monitoring through participatory mode, recording of farmers feedback as success stories, diffusion of technologies in wider spectrum through ICT modules like Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, MobileApp etc. involvement of state extension functionaries, using Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, interface meeting among the stakeholders made significant impact in adopting B-N Hybrid cultivation in large scale by the farmers. About 615 livestock farmers including mahila kisans were directly benefitted from distribution of planting materials of 6.64 lakh cuttings (Variety CO 4: 2.50 lakh and CO 5: 4.14 lakh) equivalent to the planting area of 22.15 hectares of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. At present, Farmer-to-Farmer extension (FFE) approach is mobilising faster diffusion of this technology within the state of UP and beyond UP.
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