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Agricultural
Database
National
Agriculture Policy:
Agriculture
Extension :
Agriculture extension is one
of the main components of the National Agriculture Policy. There is a need
for strengthening agricultural extension service for ensuring proper use
of agricultural land and improving land productivity. The Department of
Agricultural Extension (DAE) has got the responsibility of providing
information on appropriate technologies to the farmers; educating the
farmers through proper advice and training; and, thereby motivating the
farmers to adopt improved technologies. To strengthen the above mentioned
extension services, following steps will be taken:
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The New Agricultural
Extension Policy (NAEP) is currently under implementation with the
objective of promoting sustainable technology for a gradual
development of the improved crop production system. The implementation
of NAEP will be reinforced through necessary monitoring.
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Agricultural
research-extension linkage will be further strengthened with a view to
transferring new technologies to the farmers. Private sector
entrepreneurs, NGOs and farmers will also be involved in strengthening
this linkage.
The present agricultural
extension set-up is sufficiently broad-based and bolstered by efficient
manpower. The following measures will be taken to make this organization
more efficient and effective:
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DAE will prepare
feasible and compatible programs for the proper use of cultivable land
on the basis of demand for different crops and their production
targets.
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DAE will regularly
monitor the supply and availability of quality seeds, fertilizers,
irrigation, pesticides, etc. in order to facilitate the cultivation of
different crops. Besides, DAE will prepare an anticipated report on
the increase/decrease of crop-wise demand for different inputs and
apprise the authorities at the national level.
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The use of public mass
media i.e. radio, television, newspaper, etc. will be increased for
rapid extension of agricultural technologies. In this connection
Agriculture Information Service will be strengthened.
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Proper use of Annual
Development Plan allocations to local government will be ensured.
Block-wise establishment of demonstration farms, which is already in
practice, will be strengthened. Suitable crops, compatible with the
overall conditions of the farms, will be determined by DAE. Visits to
demonstration farms and interaction with the farmers by the extension
workers at an important time of the respective cropping season will be
further strengthened.
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To facilitate rapid
transfer of agricultural production technologies, multiple extension
approaches such as agricultural fair, field day, farmers’ rally,
etc. will be widely practiced.
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Agriculture extension
service will be strengthened to encourage self-motivated cooperative
system of production.
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