ICAR - Central Arid Zone Research Institute

Off-campus training was organized at ICAR-CAZRI Model village Ujaliya of Baori tehsil in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan on 16/06/2015. The event was organized at Government Junior High school with the coordination of Sarpanch and ward members of Ujaliya village. Nearly 200 farmers and farm women participated in the training including ward members of Ujaliya village panchayat, Kisan mitras, anganwadi workers and retired public and private servants of the village. The theme of the training was to acquaint with farmers and their farming practices through use of Participatory Rural Appraisal. In the beginning, Dr. Pratibha Tewari, HD, Division VI, CAZRI explained to the villagers about the rationale behind selecting Ujaliya as model village and highlighted the various research and developmental activities to be carried out in the village in the future. Dr. Bhagwan Singh briefed about the scientific interventions to be made in the village for upcoming kharif season. Dr. Prashant Nikumbhe informed farmers about the horticulture based interventions to be made on farmers’ field in participatory mode. Farmers were enthusiastic to enquire about the demonstrations of various improved varieties and horticultural crops. They discussed about the varieties of seeds, quantity of seed and number of demonstrations to be conducted for each crop. Dr. B. L. Manjunatha explained about various innovative technology extension methods to disseminate knowledge to farming community. Shiran, K., Scientist, explained about the role of agro-forestry species in farm income, sustainability and ecosystem services. Social mapping was attempted with the group of farmers and farm women. Social map was drawn on the ground using locally available material like, soil, rangoli, moulded mud pottery, plant twigs, etc. It showed the compact habited area, dhanis, roads, agricultural area, gauchar area, waste land, forest land, water ponds, canals, and tubewells. The cropping pattern in different areas of the arable land was marked. The team of technical officers facilitated the entire social mapping technique with farming community and recording of PRA techniques on data sheets and triangulated it with farmers. The event ended by vote of thanks.

(Source: ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur)