Thrissur: Structural and functional re-organisation of the state agricultural department is in the pipeline, director of agriculture Dr P.K. Jayasree has said.
Speaking at the orientation programme for new academic staff of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) at Vellanikkara here on Monday, she said that the restructuring was being initiated to ensure fruitful convergence of different extension systems, the involvement of multiple stakeholders, enhancement of income, promotion of community partnerships and establishment of agri-business incubators.
“The contribution of KAU in realising these objectives is highly pertinent, and new academic staff has a key role to play in moulding future scientists and extension professionals,” she said.
“KAU, department of agriculture and the farming community have a mutually supportive and complementary role to play. The aim is to facilitate increased coordination and liaison between these entities so that a new attitude to farming activities is developed. Research with a human touch and innovative extension tools to address location-specific issues and coordination with departments like rural development are the objectives,” she added.
KAU vice-chancellor Dr R. Chandra Babu, in his inaugural address, stres-sed the need to imbibe and employ advanced knowledge and modern technology for agricultural development.
“Managing agriculture has always been a tough challenge, which is getting tougher day by day. Increased market integration, globalisation and the resultant change in consumer priorities, climate change among other issues are putting tremendous pressure on the real masters of society that is farmers,” he said.
With acute resource constraints being a major hurdle before agriculture in Kerala, new insights, new energy and new interventions had become relevant. New academic staff would have to shoulder this responsibility with commitment and explore possibilities offered by the vast framework of KAU, VC noted.
Dr Sheshashayee, professor, UAS, Bengaluru gave a lecture on effective communication in teaching while Dr M. Rave-endran, professor, TNAU talked about framing project proposals, funding for agricultural research and research publications.
