EXTENSION PROGRAMMES

Nineteen Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) are functioning under AAU to achieve the set mandate of Training, Frontline Demonstration (FLD) and On Farm Trials (OFT). During 2005-2009, altogether 3459 numbers of training programmes within and outside the campus were conducted where more than 57,500 farmers and farm women participated. Through 612 numbers of sponsored programmes by various development agencies a total of 57,254 trainees were benefited. Technology dissemination was carried out through 242 FLDs.

Small Tea Growers' Advisory Programme (STAP) of Tea Advisory Cell funded by Tea Board and established in 1988 has gained immense popularity amongst the small tea growers of Assam and other NE states. The programme caters to the technical need of the small tea growers through counseling and training programmes. During 2006-07, 7 trainings have been conducted where 177 small tea growers participated. A total of 12,500 small tea growers have so far registered with STAP for technical guidance.

Farm Women Training Centre (FWTC) conducted 88 number of training courses to upgrade the skill of rural women in agriculture and allied activities with a focus on specialized areas like animal husbandry, kitchen gardening, mushroom production technology and organic farming. Selected groups of women entrepreneurs have started their own venture besides forming self-help groups after successful completion of these trainings.

The extension specialists of the University have contributed in preparation of the base documents (District Agricultural Development Strategy - DADS) for Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) with a view to uplift farmers' productivity and income. This has been done through a tested model developed by MANAGE, Hyderabad.

A farmer friendly website named "BRIDDHI" (http://briddhi.aau.ac.in) has been launched where the technologies so far developed at AAU in the field of agriculture, animal science, home science, fishery and sericulture have been digitized in Assamese language with funding from the World Bank under Assam Agriculture Competitive Project (AACP).

The AAU has been a major partner with the State Govt. in developing the web portal "ASHA" for the benefit of the farmers. Till date, more than 500 farmers' queries from different parts of Assam have been replied in the field of agriculture and fisheries.

The Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) was established to provide information on technologies developed by AAU to farmers through a single window delivery system. A total of over 5120 farmers have visited the Centre during the period 2007-08. The Centre also sells quality seeds of different HYVs, vegetable seeds, panting materials, bio-fertilizers, vermicompost and products like tea, black pepper, honey, etc.