Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
'Farmer FIRST' (Farm, Innovations, Resources, Science and Technology) is a flagship program launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in 2016. It signifies a paradigm shift from conventional top-down agricultural extension to a farmer-centric approach. The initiative aims to move beyond mere production and productivity targets, acknowledging the complex, diverse, and risk-prone realities faced by the majority of Indian farmers, particularly small and marginal landholders. It seeks to enrich the interface between farmers and scientists for co-developing and applying agricultural technologies.
Understanding 'Farmer FIRST'
'Farmer FIRST' is conceptualized to position farmers at the core of agricultural research and development. It emphasizes participatory technology development and application by fostering direct interaction between farmers and scientists. This approach recognizes farmers not merely as beneficiaries but as active partners in identifying problems, prioritizing research needs, conducting experiments, and managing farm-level interventions. The program seeks to integrate local knowledge with scientific expertise to develop sustainable and suitable solutions for diverse agro-ecological situations.
Objectives of 'Farmer FIRST'
The primary objectives of the 'Farmer FIRST' program are multifaceted, aiming for holistic agricultural development and improved farmer livelihoods:
- Enhancing Farmer-Scientist Interface: To build a strong two-way communication channel between farmers and agricultural scientists, facilitating continuous feedback for technology refinement and development.
- Participatory Technology Development: To involve farmers in the entire process of technology testing, validation, and refinement, ensuring that developed technologies are economically viable, socially acceptable, and environmentally sustainable.
- Improving Livelihood Security: To identify and integrate economically viable and socially compatible entrepreneurial activities as models for enhanced farmer earnings, especially for small, marginal, and landless farmers.
- Resource Use Efficiency: To promote the efficient and judicious use of natural resources through eco-friendly and low-cost agricultural practices.
- Social Inclusion: To ensure that vulnerable sections, including farm women, smallholders, and resource-poor farmers, are actively involved in agricultural development processes and benefit from technological interventions. Special modules are designed for farm women to address drudgery reduction and income enhancement.
- Building Linkages: To establish networks of linkages with various stakeholders such as technology institutions, input support systems, and markets to facilitate access to information, technology, and better marketability of produce.
- Data Collection and Impact Assessment: To assess the technical, socio-economic, and environmental impact of the project, generating a database on the performance of NARS technologies and farmer perceptions.
Conclusion
The 'Farmer FIRST' initiative represents a progressive shift in India's agricultural extension and research strategy, moving towards a demand-driven, farmer-participatory model. By prioritizing the diverse needs and realities of farmers and strengthening the farmer-scientist interface, it aims to deliver tailored technological solutions, enhance income, improve livelihood security, and foster sustainable agricultural practices. This program is crucial for addressing contemporary challenges in Indian agriculture, promoting innovation, and ensuring the long-term prosperity of the farming community.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.