Village Knowledge Centre inaugurated in partnership with OUAT and Chikrada Gram panchayat in Ganjam District, Odisha

As part of the Knowledge Mangement and capacity building work package, the Village Knowledge Centre ( VKC) was inaugurated in Chikrada village, Ganjam district of  Odisha by Prof P.K. Roul Dean Extension Education and Principal Investigator, RESILIENCE project inaugurated the VKC in presence of Prof.  L.M. Garnayak, Nodal officer, RESILIENCE project and Mrs Mamata Mohanty, Sarpanch of Chikarada Gram Panchayat

In his inaugural address, he highlighted the objectives of the RESILIENCE project and the role of VKC in faciliating demand driven information and knowldege to the men and women. He mentioned that suitable technologies and good agronomic practices are being identified by the University in consultation with various stakeholders. The VKC will play a pivotal role and develop training modules, audio, video and text content for the identified technologies and conduct capacity building programmes to address the challenges of climate variabiltiy and climate change in Agriculture.  Dr. R. Rajkumar, Senior scientist, MSSRF explained the various VKC services. He highlighted that the main purpose of the VKC is to provide scientific and locale-specific information and knowledge related to Climate Smart  Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Health and Nutrition, Employment, Education and Govt. entitlements etc and to address the requirements of men and women farmers and agricultural labourers. He also pointed out that the VKC envisages in adopting a multi-pronged communication strategy through its specialized services such as Mobile based audio advisories, Farmers’ Helpline services, audio-video conferences, Phone-in programmes, social media, video including multimedia-based learning, plant clinics etc to disseminate dynamic and static information and knowledge.

Seeds of climate resilient paddy varieties (CR 1009 sub -1 and Swarna Shreya were distributed among farmers by RESILIENT Project of OUAT which is resilient to drought and flooding to the men and women farmers of Chikrada and Sasanpadar. The seeds supplied to the farmers would cover an area of 50 acres in both villages.

Senior officials from the Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, Department of Fisheries, KVK and Department of Rural Development also participated, expressed their cooperation, and wished the success of the Village knowledge centre to evolve as a platform to bring together the different stakeholders in addressing the issues of farmers and agricultural labourers.