Farmer participatory technology assessment and refinement in coconut through Institution-Village Linkage Programme experiences of CPCRI in India
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Date
2004-12
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Abstract
Studies have shown that the extent of adoption of available technologies in coconut is not at a satisfactory level and there exists a wide gap between the productivity achieved at Research Stations and in field. Recommending technology based on the results at the research station without adequate and proper testing in the farmers fields under the farmers resource and risk situations leads to inadequate technology integration. Ensuring farmers participation in research and extension invariably enhances the extent of technology utilisation at farm level. There is scope for participatory technology assessment and refinement in coconut for achieving higher productivity. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) started a project in 1995 for Technology Assessment and Refinement through Institution Village Linkage Programme (IVLP) under National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP). Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) is one of the selected centres to implement the project. Under this project the scope for farmer participatory research and extension in coconut was widened. IVLP is a novel front line extension programme, the implementation of which begins with the selection of a suitable village. that is followed by a detailed agro-ecosystem analysis of the selected village. diagnosing the problems of each production systems and prioritizing these; identification of technological interventions baqed on problem-cause relationship; the development of action plans and their implementation; and detailed socio-economic evaluation including farmers reaction and perception about the interventions. This is carried out using various PRA and RRA tools and techniques. In all these stages the active participation of farmers was ensured. CPCRI has been implementing lVLP in three villages , viz.. Pady, Edneer and Nekraje of Kasaragod. Kerala with coconut as one of the important crops in the production system of the villages. This paper. besides detailing the lVLP approach, gives an account of the technological interventions relating to coconut production system namely performance assessment of high yielding varieties, intercropping technology and nutrient management. The impact of these interventions in enhancing the productivity and income from coconut is also discussed in this paper.
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Coconut, farmer participatory technology, refinement, IVLP
Citation
Journal of Plantation Crops 32(Suppl.) December 2004: 459 - 464