The term “Farmer FIRST” means the farmers’ Farm, Innovations, Resources, Science and Technology (FIRST). The initiative was taken by ICAR to move beyond the production and productivity; to privilege the smallholder agriculture; and complex, diverse and risk prone realities of majority of the farmers through enhancing farmers-scientists interface. The basic concept is that the farmer will be in a centric role for research problem identification, prioritization, conduct of experiments and its management in farmers’ field conditions. It emphasizes resource management, climate resilient agriculture, production management including storage, marketing, supply chains, value chains, innovation systems, information systems etc. With this concept, Agricultural Extension Division of ICAR, New Delhi invited project proposals for funding under Farmer FIRST Programme from ICAR Institutes/ Agricultural Universities and directed to submit the project proposal to the concerned ATARIs considering their Zone.
Present FARMER FIRST PROGRAMME (FFP) centres under ICAR-ATARI Kolkata
- ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
FFP Objectives:
FFP aims at enhancing farmer-scientist interface for technology development and application. It will be achieved with focus on innovations, technology, feedback, multiple stakeholder’s participation, multiple realities, multi method approaches, vulnerability and livelihood interventions. The specific objectives are:
- To enhance farmer-scientist interface, enrich knowledge and facilitate continued feedback;
- To identify and integrate economically viable and socially compatible technological options as adoptable models for different agro-ecological situations;
- To develop modules for farm women to address drudgery reduction, income enhancement and livelihood security;
- To study performance of technologies and perception of the farmers about agriculture as a profession in the rural settings;
- To build network of linkages of organizations around the farm households for improving access to information, technology, input and market.
- To institutionalize Farmer FIRST process.
Salient achievements of the project: