One year DAESI (Diploma in Agricultural Extension Services for Input Dealers) programme was inaugurated at ICAR-KVK, Hirehalli, Tumakuru on 18th Sept, 2021 in collaboration with SAMETI, UAS Bengaluru, MANAGE, Hyderabad and Dept. of Agriculture, Tumakuru District. The programme started with ICAR & IIHR Theme Song. Dr. B.N.Srinivasa Murthy, Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru inaugurated the programme. During his inaugural address, he opined that it is a welcome step by the government to train the input dealers, so that they could give correct advice to the farmers and bridge the wide gap existing between farmers and extension agents in the country. He also highlighted the farmer’s friendly horticultural technologies released by ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru for enhancing the higher production and profitability for the farmers. Dr. N.Devakumar, Director of Extension, UAS, Bengaluru addressed them about the vital role played UAS, Bengaluru and in bridging the identified technological gaps existing with the farmers. The ultimate goal of this important function is to attain the sustainable income of the farmer, by taking all the enterprises into consideration, integrating them and treating the whole farm as one unit. Dr.G.R.Pennopilaswamy, State Nodal Officer, SAMETI (South), UAS, Bengaluru highlighted the overview and importance of DAESI programme. He opined that only 2-3% of the farmers are accessing agricultural technology related information through state agricultural departments/universities/KVK etc. More than 25% of the farmers are obtaining these information from agri input dealers. In this backdrop, he strongly emphasized the need to capacity build the input dealers and involve them as para- extension agency having DAESI as a platform to conceptualize the same. This was followed by the address by Smt. Raja Sulochana, Joint Director, Dept. of Agriculture, Tumakuru. In her address she spoke about how input dealers are helpful to farming community and role of para extension workers in order to achieve sustainable agriculture. Dr.Ashoka DDA1 and Dr.Deepashree DDA2 accompanied Joint Director during the day. Dr. Loganandhan N., Principal Scientist and Head, ICAR-KVK, Hirehalli,Tumakuru welcomed the dignitaries and participants and also stressed that technology should not be restricted to researchers, instead it should percolate to the target groups and that could be better achieved through DAESI program by involving agro input dealers. Shri. K.N.Jagadish, ACTO/SMS (Agril.Extension), ICAR-KVK, Hirehalli compered the programme and gave vote of thanks.
