Vasant Prakash Vikas Pratishthan's

Krishi Vigyan Kendra,

A/p. Kanchanpur, Taluka - Miraj, Dist. Sangli-416306

     Technology Assessment & Refinement refers to a set of procedures whose purpose is to develop recommendations for a particular agro-climatic situation/location through assessment and refinement of recently released technology through participatory approach. It refers to the process or a set of activities before taking up new scientific information for its dissemination in a new production system. On Farm Trials (OFT) conducted by this KVK is based on this concept.

     On Farm Trials (OFT) – An On Farm Trial aims at testing a new technology or an idea in farmers fields, under farmers conditions and management, by using farmers own practice as control. It helps to develop innovations consistent with farmers circumstances, compatible with the actual farming system and corresponding to farmers goals and preferences.  

In short, technologies that are released by State Agricultural Universities (SAU) and Research Institutes are assessed in a given farming situation and need based refinement is proposed so as to make that technology more effective.

     “Believing through seeing” and “learning by doing” accomplished through demonstrations helps this KVK in technology integration. This process arouses interest and improves the adoption, because it is based on the principles of “learning by doing” and “seeing is believing”. Technology demonstration is the most effective way to show how a thing works, how to do the work, principles involved in an operation and to show the end results of the technology/methodology adopted. On the basis of purpose for which technology demonstration is conducted it is classified into (i) method demonstration and (ii) result demonstration. 

Method Demonstration – A method demonstration is conducted to explain how to carry out a particular operation according to its principles so that it is carried out systematically and yields better result. Through method demonstration we teach the learners about how to do something. The learners will be shown the right method for doing an old practice or taught about a new practice that are introduced to them. The method demonstration teaches new skill and helps the learner to obtain practical knowledge about something they need to practice or do in their day to day life.  

Result Demonstration – The value of a new practice can be realized better by seeing the end product or outcome in comparison with the existing practice. Therefore, in extension education the result demonstration serves as an important tool to convince the farmer about the value of a new idea or innovation that are introduced to them as an option to their existing practice. Unless the farmers see the outcome or results of the recommended practice in comparison with their existing practice with their own eyes and experience, it becomes difficult for the extension worker to make the farmer to adopt the recommended variety or practice. In such circumstances, the result demonstration helps the extension worker to make his job easy.  

Front-Line Demonstrations – Front-Line Demonstration (FLD) is a concept of field demonstration evolved by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research during the inception of Technology Mission on Oilseed Crops during mid-eighties. The field demonstrations conducted under the close supervision of scientists of the National Agriculture Research System is called front-line demonstrations because the technologies are demonstrated for the first time by the scientists themselves before being fed into the main extension system of the state Department of Agriculture. KVKs conduct frontline demonstration only on those technologies suited to their micro location as proved by their own assessment ad refinement through OFTs. They can conduct FLD on any technology assessed and refined and found undoubtedly suitable by any other agency involved in developing technologies for regions/agro-climatic zones that include or are similar to the KVK microlocation.  

          The main objective of Front-Line Demonstrations is to demonstrate latest crop production technologies and its management practices in the farmers field under different agro-climatic regions and farming situations. While demonstrating the technologies in the farmers field, the scientists are required to study the factors contributing towards higher crop production, field constraints of production and thereby generate production data and feedback information.  

     Training plays an important role in the advancement of human performance in a given situation. Training provides a systematic improvement of knowledge and skills which in turn helps the trainees to function effectively and efficiently in their given task on completion of the training. In this KVK, trainings are conducted at various levels for which the programmes are designed based on the clientele problems and needs. The training programmes are idealistically designed and conducted for inducing changes in the durable aspects of persons, changes in relationship and changes in action. The training strategies vary depending upon the learning outcome the trainer seeks to achieve among their trainees. The training may be for improving the proficiency in the task performed or learning a process.  

Any training programme starts with identification of training needs, followed by translation of training needs into objectives. Based upon the objectives, the contents of the programme are developed, taking into consideration the knowledge, skill and attitude elements needed to achieve each objective.  

Normally this KVK conducts following types of training programmes –

1.     Training for formers (On and Off Campus)

2.     Training for rural youth (On and Off Campus)

3.     Training for extension personnel (On and Off Campus)

4.     Sponsored training programmes (On and Off Campus)

  - For farmers, rural youth and extension personnel

5.     Vocational training programmes (On and Off Campus)

-         For farmers and rural youth.

Based on duration, the KVK trainings can be classified as –

1.     Short duration trainings (1-7 days)

2.     Medium duration training (8-14 days) &

3.     Long duration trainings (3-4 weeks) 

Extension may be defined as the science of developing capability of the people for sustainable improvement in their quality of life.  

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kanchanpur, Sangli conducts number of extension activities such as Field Day, Kisan Mela, Exhibition, Film show, Method demonstrations, Workshops, Group meetings, Newspaper coverage, Advisory services, Scientific visit to farmers field, Diagnostic visits, Soil health camp, Soil test campaigns, Self help group conveners meetings etc.