Karnataka Agricultural Policy - Institute for Social and Economic ...

Karnataka Agicultural Policy 2006
10 Agricultural Education and Research
10.1 The State has two Agricultural Universities at Bangalore and Dharwad, catering to the needs of the
farmers from south and north Karnataka through the network of colleges, demonstration plots and
research stations. These have been consistently at the forefront in the country and recognized for their
excellent work. In addition to these, the State also has Veterinary Sciences University at Bidar.
Research and extension play a key role in development of agriculture, which further leads to farmers’
prosperity. After independence, both Union and the State government shared the responsibility of
agricultural research but agricultural education became a State subject. Agricultural Research did not
pick up the early signs of distress at the State as well as at the national level and it is manifested in the
farmers’ situation today.
10.2 Recently a State level Agriculture Research Review Committee was appointed under the Chairmanship
of Shri Arora, Former Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner to the Government of
Karnataka. The Committee intensively reviewed the research system in terms of quantum and quality
of research and transfer of research findings from laboratory to the field of the farmer. It also looked
into the relevance of and impact of research findings in addition to analysing the methodology of the
transfer of technology and extension services. The members of the Committee discussed with the
farmers the receptivity of the research findings from the Agricultural Universities. Arora Committee
pointed out some impediments in the Agricultural University system that include: adoption of a
rational personnel policy; manpower assessment; inbreeding in faculty development; growth- vis-à-vis
student admissions, inflow of research; projects, extension outputs, assignment on consultancy,
availability of infrastructure; deterioration in financial health due to system of block grants from the
Government of Karnataka including the externally funded projects, and the thinly spread resources.
These together have been the constraints, but despite these the Agricultural Education and Research
system have contributed meritoriously to the growth of the sector in Karnataka and the Universities
received best accolades from ICAR.
10.3 Research and extension being ‘interactive,’ but being independent departments in the Agricultural
Universities probably outlived their original intent and purpose and now the change is both inevitable
and essential. In the Post- Green Revolution Technology environment, significant paradigm shifts have
taken place in the nature of demand for technology and extension services. Now a strategy of ‘contract
research and extension’ consultancy can satisfy the market-driven demands through letting commercial
considerations of technology inputs work outside the public research extension system. However, the
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