On-Farm Research, Training and Extension

Trainings were conducted during the year under different programmes/projects as below:

Scaling up of Water Productivity in Agriculture for Livelihoods through teaching cum demonstration and training of trainers and farmers
Strengthening Statistical Computing for National Agricultural Research System
Farmers' Participatory Action Research Programme (FPARP)
Trainings organized for Women Empowerment

Scaling up of Water Productivity in Agriculture for Livelihoods (SWPA) through teaching cum demonstration and training of trainers and farmers

XI plan scheme on "Scaling-up of Water Productivity in Agriculture for Livelihoods through Teaching cum Demonstration, Training of Trainers and Farmers" implemented by 32 centres (27 SAUs and 5 ICAR Institutes)all over India and DWM, Bhubaneswar acted as monitoring and coordinating centre.During XI Plan period (2007-08 to 2011-12), a total of 101901 farmers (male: 83410, female: 18491; General: 39977; OBC: 35299; SC/ST: 26625) and 5847 trainers were trained through 1935 farmers' training programmes of one-week duration and 241 trainers' training programmes of two-week duration, respectively by 32 coordinating centres under SWPA programme all over the country. It has created awareness and improved knowledge, attitude and skill of the farmers and trainers on water management technologies all over the country. About two thousand on-station and on-farm demonstrations were conducted by the 32 implementing centres during XI plan period. On-farm demonstrations covered an area of about 500 ha and seven thousand beneficiary farmers. About one and half lakh farmers visited the demonstration sites and witnessed the demonstrated technologies gaining knowledge and experiences on scaling-up of water productivity in agriculture at different locations all over the country.

DWM was also one of the 32 implementing centres and the trainings were imparted to the farmers on "Scaling up of water productivity in agriculture and improved livelihood" during 2007-08 to 2011-12 in fifteen districts (Khurda, Puri, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Balasore, Jajpur, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Koraput, Bolangir, Bhadrak, Keonjhar and Bargarh) falling under different agro-ecological region of the state. During the year 2007-08 to 2011-12, a total of 89 farmers' training programmes each of one week duration were organized. A total of 5647 farmers were trained, out of which 4790 were male and 857 were female farmers. Out of total farmers, 3346 were below poverty line (BPL) and 2301 were above poverty line (APL). Caste wise distribution of the farmer-trainees reveals that 2673 farmers were of general category while 1934, 760, 280 were of OBC, SC and ST respectively. Based on location specific problems of the farmers, trainings were imparted to them on efficient utilization of water in crop production for enhancing water productivity. Besides, eight trainers' training programmes each of two weeks duration were organized in five districts of Odisha. A total of 208 trainers were trained, out of which 168 were male and 40 were female. The trainees were inclusive of 38 from Agriculture Departments, 36 from Horticulture Departments, 5 from Soil & water conservation Departments, 15 from Irrigation Departments, 3 from Animal Husbandry Departments, 2 from Fisheries Departments, 1 from KVK, 3 from NGO's, 77 from Pani Panchayats, 28 from SHG's and farmers groups.

Strengthening Statistical Computing for National Agricultural Research System

The Statistical Computational Hub of Directorate of Water Management was assigned to conduct one Software Installation Workshop, one trainers' training program of one month and 6 training programs of six days each for the scientists of 28 ICAR institutes and SAUs of eastern India. The "Software Installation Workshop" was conducted at DWM, Bhubaneswar during 18-19 June 2010. In this workshop, installation training of the SAS software was imparted to the 22 nodal officers under the DWM Statistical Computing Hub. The SAS software was also handed over to all NARS organization of eastern India, which would be maintained by the nodal officers.

The 30-days trainer's training program on "SAS: A Comprehensive Overview" was organized at DWM, Bhubaneswar during 16 August-22 September 2010. Twenty scientists from eastern India participated this training. Experts from the SAS foundation company imparted the training.

The first two 6-days training on "Data Analysis using SAS" were organized during 22-27 November and 13-18 December, 2010 at DWM, Bhubaneswar. The third 6-days training on "Data Analysis using SAS" was organized during 17- 22 January, 2011 at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU), Ranchi followed by the training at Jawalal Neheru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (JNKVV), Jabalpur during 24-29 January 2011. The last two training programs "Data Analysis using SAS" were conducted at Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Barrackpore and at Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), Port Blair during 14-19 February and 01-07 March, 2011, respectively. A total of 185 scientists and researchers of National Agricultural Research System in eastern region were trained regarding the application of advance statistical tools and techniques using the SAS software. Out of these, 165 scientists completed 6-days training and 20 scientists received 30-days training. Besides, 22 nodal officers have been trained for software installation and 17 research scholars of CARI, Port Blair have been trained under "Data analysis using SAS".

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Farmers' Participatory Action Research Programme (FPARP)

The farmers' Participatory Action Research Programme (FPARP) in 2nd Phase has been started in January, 2011 at DWM, Bhubaneswar in five districts of Orissa, viz., Puri, Dhenkanal, Balasore, Mayurbhanja and Khurda. The existing climate, soil and socio-economic data of 5 study districts were documented. In 2010-11, integrated technologies of irrigation, soil and crop management for higher productivity and water use efficiency in upland acid soil were demonstrated in 17 ha area involving 57 farmers of Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts. Efficient water harvesting, control of seepage, conveyance losses and effective utilization for supplemental irrigation were demonstrated in 7 farmers' field of those two districts. Improved on-farm irrigation system, irrigated scheduling and adoption of appropriate crops with agriculture through pond based farming under waterlogged ecosystems were demonstrated in Puri district of Orissa in 10 ha area involving 35 farmers. The purchase of 25 treadle pump is in process which will be installed in Dhenkanal district to extract shallow ground water table. The selection of site and farmers in Khurda district has been completed for demonstrating conjunctive use of poor quality and fresh water with efficient irrigation method for crop production.

Trainings organized for Women Empowerment

Altogether 281 women farmers were trained on different aspects water management through farmers' training on "Scaling-up water productivity in agriculture for livelihood", organized at 25 different locations covering 10 districts Orissa. The duration of each training was one week. An orientation to achieve empowerment through group approach was given to the women farmers during this training. The women farmers were also made aware about different schemes of state and central government for their empowerment and various vocations.

Two one-day farmers training programs on "Rainwater management for sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods" were conducted at Nuagaon, Dhenkanal on 30.1.2011 and at Mandapala, Dhenkanal on 1.2.2011. in which 11 women farmers were trained. One-day exposure visit of the farmers was organized for the farmers of Gunadei, Belpada and Kauniapala villages of Dhenkanal district. 51 farmers attended the exposure visit program out of which 18 were women.