BackFarmers First programme launched by Dr. S.M.K. Naqvi, Director CSWRI Avikanagar on 5th September 2012

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An initiative on the line of ‘Farmer’s First’ programme launched by Dr. S.M.K. Naqvi, Director, Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSWRI), Avikanagar on 5th September 2012 at Bheepur village. ‘Farmers First’ mission is the brainchild of Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary DARE and Director General, ICAR with the objective of enriching farmers-scientists interface for technology development and application. ICAR intends to propose this programme soon on a large scale with key focus on innovations; feedback; multiple stakeholders participation, multi method approaches, vulnerability, and livelihood interventions. On the similar initiative, CSWRI has launched the programme at ‘Bheepur’ village in the Malpura Tehsil of Tonk district of Rajasthan. In this participatory programme, focus will be on understanding the needs of the farmers with regards to sheep husbandry, to meet their demand through technologies developed at the institute such as genetically improved breeding rams, artificial insemination, nutritional and health inputs, and scientific recording of data such as pedigree and performance. This project aims at enhancing the mutton production and wool yield in the adopted area, increase the socioeconomic status of the rural poor and ultimately securing the livelihood security of poor farmers. This project initiated with involvement of 10 sheep farmers by providing the elite rams and other inputs. In these adopted sheep flocks most of the relevant institute generated technologies shall be exposed so that more farmers will come ahead to join the programme in near future.