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Outreach Research
Vital For Agricultural Development

By Ram Bahadur Bhujel

GENERATION of technologies is mainly based on needs and demand of the day. However, some are designed for basic research while others are need-based. Both types of technologies are adopted by respective consumers according to their socio-economic status. Generation and development of technologies particularly in agriculture cannot be introduced and imported directly from foreign land unless it is found locally fit. Because the agricultural technologies related to field activities are directly governed by macro and micro climatic condition. Therefore, the technologies need to be verified under local climatic condition so as to make them acceptable at least to local clients in the beginning.

Mainstay

Since agriculture is the mainstay of Nepalese people, the generation, development and dissemination of agricultural technologies is vital for economic growth and development of the country. Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) is an apex body mandated for agricultural research in Nepal established under NARC Act 2048, B.S. It has different commodity programmes, Disciplinary Divisions, Regional Agriculture Research Stations (RARS), and Agriculture Research Stations (ARS) which carry out research activities in different commodities of livestock, fishery and agricultural crops.
The major process of technology generation happens at R/ARS, Commodity Programmes and Disciplinary Divisions where the performance of related commodities is evaluated in different characteristics-basis mainly directed by the objectives of research projects. The evaluations are pursued at least for three to five years or more depending on the nature and objective of research in different commodities. The elite genotypes/breeds species are then identified on the basis of their production and related parameters. Actually, these elite groups are identified under research station condition where most of the circumstances are controlled and maintained adequately except the natural events in weather condition. It is a well known fact that the end-users of agricultural technologies are farmers under varied agro-ecological zones where the circumstances are not similar and controlled. Therefore, the technologies need to be verified under different agro-environments prevailing in the region or command area. Wihtout this step, the problem created by certain technologies adopted by farmers directly from the source which are technically unidentified may not be corrected immediately after the claim of the clients. In case of delay in solution, agriculture workers are being blamed as if they are employed to be blamed. The system of direct adoption is never given attention by any one. Good things are easily adopted without caring its future consequences but the problems arise when they fail to meet our environment and make losses to farmers. At least short information about technology to be adopted needs to be noted which makes easy to reach conclusion by agricultural scientists as doctor gets from their early prescriptions.
Outreach Research Division (ORD) under NARC is assigned to look after the outreach research activities in central level while each RARS and ARS has their own command area/districts for verification of technologies identified agro-ecologically in different region. ORD is responsible not only for its own outreach activities but also help NARC for formulating policies related to outreach research, its implementation status and current activities in the country through different RARS and ARS. There are more than 70 districts which are being served as command districts of 18 Regional/Agriculture Research Stations in the country. The respective RARS and ARS have identified certain representative Village Development Committees (VDC) for research activities which are known as Outreach Research Site. The VDCs are categorised according to their representation of major agro-ecological zones prevailing in the region.

The on-station generated technologies are now brought at outreach research site where farmers, extensionists and researchers paritcipate in verification process. The material inputs like seeds/breeds/saplings/species, fertilisers, medicines, and agrochemicals are supplied to farmers. All operations related to research activities are carried out by farmers on technical advice of concerned researcher.

This process of research is called outreach research programme which is made participatory in nature. The performance of each commodity is carefully observed and data are recorded for scientific analysis. Farmers with their participation perform all intercultural operations in field crops and so in other commodities and observe the performance. The same research work is carried out at least for three to five years plus under identified agro-ecological zones.

The best performers are recognised on several aspects such as yield, disease and insect resistance, maturity days, fineness, straw yield and tolerance to drought condition. The farmers' reactions are highly prioritised and recorded for further implication. Any technology that meets to fulfill above score in positive sign is then meant for wider adoption in the region. However, the legal process for variety release is put forward along with all performance records to central level board by concerned commodity programme.

Such Process of verification is very important for location specific technology which suits in certain domain while unfits in other. During the verification process, the elite genotypes are adapted by farmers as they believe its performance due to their own involvement in outreach research programme. From this step the absorption of improved technologies take place through farmers to farmers, researcher to farmers and extension to farmers. The research trials are also visited by other neighboring farmers and farmers from other parts of the region organised by District Agriculture Development and District Livestock Service Offices (DADO and DLSO). The adoption goes on widening irrespective of formal recommendation because seeing is believing plays a vital role in dissemination process. Even the demonstration effect becomes active right from the beginning of experiment. The poor technologies are rejected by farmers owing to feedback to researcher for further improvement in research proposals.

Dissemination

Though, the mandate of research institution ends after verification of technologies and the dissemination part is transferred to extension agents (DADO and DLSO); the joint venture of research and extension is needed to be formulated for further dissemination in the reion. The joint venture should aim to let the programme pursued for further three to five years for wider adoption and sufficient feedback to researcher and policy makers.

The work in isolation (research and extension) results in slow movement of technology while that of joint venture would owe to speed up dissemination of technologies for quick outputs in the country. Thus the technologies verified by target clients and responsible agencies (research and extension) help develop technologies which are technically sound and feasible, socially acceptable, environmentally suitable, economically profitable and sustainable at least as a domain specific in command area of respective institutions in the country.

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