The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has launched several flagship programs aimed at promoting agricultural development, particularly for marginalized communities and regions. Among these programs, the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Caste (DAPSC; earlier known as SCSP), the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST; earlier known as TSP), and initiatives in the North Eastern Hill Region (NEH) play vital roles in ensuring inclusive growth in the agricultural and allied sectors. The premier organization ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh has implemented the livelihood-based programme at its Head Quarters, 2 campuses and 3 regional stations located at 5 states. The main aims of DAPSC and DAPST are to empower SC and ST communities, respectively through skill development, access to resources, and promotion of inclusive policies in the area of livestock and poultry husbandry. North Eastern Hilly Region (NEH) programme addresses the unique challenges faced by farmers in northeastern region of India, promoting sustainable farming and animal husbandry practices. Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav (MGMG) promote direct engagement between scientists and rural communities helps in knowledge dissemination and the adoption of better agricultural techniques. These flagship programmes contribute to livelihood generation, rural empowerment, livestock development, and agricultural sustainability.
1. Development Action Plan for Schedule Caste
Schedule Caste Sub-Plan program is being undertaken at ICAR-IVRI Izatnagar as well as by its five campus/regional stations viz., Mukteswar, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Palampur and Pune. In Uttar Pradesh, the program is being implemented in Mohammadpur Thakuran, Hamirpur, Bhagwanpur, Bhairoli and Panua villages of Bareilly district and in Uttarakhand, Gehna Dadim Chausali Darmoli Agahariya and Saliyakote villages of Nainital district. The program was implemented in Ajegaon, Wadiwara and Sirsam villages of Hingoli district, Kashti village of Ahmednagar district, Pathardi and Belgaon Dhage villages of Nashik district, Chinchgavhan village of Jalgaon district and Khadki village in Pune district of Maharashtra. In Karnataka, the program was implemented in Sagahalli village, HD Kote Taluk, Mysore District and Hunasepalya village, Kollegal Taluk, Chamarajnagar District. In Himachal Pradesh, the program was implemented in Dohag, Dhelu, Haar, Bhaura, Tataanka, Dhodan and Tobdi village of Mandi and Kangra districts. In West Bengal, the program is operational in Balarampur, Bon Hooghly, Dihi, Tihuria, Joyenpur, Bagharkhol, Khurigachhi, Gangajowara, Nayabad, Danga and Dighari villages of Nadia 24 North Paranganas and 24 South Paranganas.
Over the five-year period from 2019 to 2024, the 623 extension activities under DAPSC were conducted benefiting 36,683 farmers from schedule caste. Key initiatives included 129 livestock health monitoring and animal health camps, 193 critical input distribution events, 82 farmer interaction meetings and workshops, 41 farm visits and tours, 62 training sessions, 86 awareness programs and demonstrations and 32 other activities like village surveys. The number of activities and beneficiaries steadily increased over the years, reflecting growing impact and commitment to community engagement and capacity-building among farmers.
Extension activities undertaken by ICAR-IVRI under DAPSC
2. Development Action Plan for Schedule Tribes
Tribal Sub-Plan program is being undertaken at IVRI Izatnagar as well as by its five Campus & Regional stations viz., Mukteswar, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Palampur and Pune. In Uttarakhand, programme is operational at Naugawa Thago village of Khatima block, Uddham Singh Nagar and Saronja Kaunda Khera, Sunkhari kala and Jhankat villages of Sitarganj block US Nagar district for tharu tribe. In Maharashtra, the program was implemented in Dhadgaon, Akkalkuwa villages of Nandurbar District, Pathardi and Trimbakeshwar villages in Nashik district, Kashti village in Ahmednagar district, and Palghar village in Palghar district for Mahadev Koli, Pawara and Bhil tribes. In Himachal Pradesh, the program was implemented in Bheekli Kugti and Upli Kugti villages of district Chamba for Gaddi tribes. In West Bengal, it is operational in Birsidhunagar, Garapar and Gayeshpur villages of Nadia and Murshidabad district and in Jharkhand at East Shinghbum for Santal, Malpahari, Bedia and Munda tribes. In Karnataka, Kaggaligundhi, Putteerammana doddi, and Kanchaganahalli were the villages where DAPST programme is operated of Chamraja Nagar district for Soliga tribes.
Under DAPST, during 2018-19 total 46 outreach activities were organised at ICAR-IVRI including its regional stations to benefit 2808 tribals. During 2019-20, 152 extension activities were organised to reach 5567 tribal across the country. In the year, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24, a total of 89, 72, 83 and 108 extension activities were organised respectively. Thus, a grand total of 550 extension activities were organised in past six years to benefit 23,040 tribal. Further, 100 animal health camps including vaccination and deworming camps were organised during 2018-19 to 2023-24. A total 119 critical inputs programme were organised to distribute critical inputs i.e. small ruminants and poultry, chaff cutter and other essentials for animal rearing (poultry feed, goat feed, poultry rearing equipment) to secure livelihood of tribal. To create awareness among tribal through DAPST, 101 kisan gosthies including farmer interactions and 31 farm visits were organised during 2018-19 to 2023-24. To inculcate skills among tribal, 54 scientific trainings were organised on various aspects viz. goat farming, pig farming, backyard poultry farming. Further, 92 awareness programmes and 53 other outreach activities were conducted during 2018-19 to 2023-24.
Extension activities undertaken by ICAR-IVRI under DAPST
3. NEH Programme
Under North Eastern Hill (NEH) activities, ERS, Kolkata, ICAR-IVRI, organized 99 outreach activities covering three states viz. Sikkim, Assam, and Tripura in collaboration with respective KVKs/SAUs/ICAR Institutes in last six years (2018-19 to 2023-24). During 2018-19, three extension activities were organised to benefit 536 beneficiaries and during 2019-20, 227 beneficiaries were covered. Whereas, during the year, 2020-21, 51 extension activities were conducted to reach 1872 beneficiaries. Further, 10 activities were conducted to benefit 358 stakeholders in the year 2021-22 and 7 outreach activities were conducted in 2022-23 to benefit 372 farmers. However, during 2023-24, total 25 extension activities were organised to reach 1432 beneficiaries. Therefore, during last six year (2018-19 to 2023-24), a total of 99 extension activities were conducted for 4797 farmers of North Eastern and Hilly regions. These extension activities included organization of Training-cum-Awareness program on Scientific Pig Farming, Kisan Gosthi-cum-Awareness on Animal Husbandry followed by distribution of inputs viz. piglets, chicks, ducklings and feed to resource poor beneficiaries of the region.
MGMG Programme (Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav)
The Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav (MGMG) programme is an initiative under ICAR's efforts to bridge the gap between rural communities and scientific research. The objective is to transfer new agricultural and veterinary technologies to farmers, improve rural livelihoods, and enhance productivity in the agricultural and livestock sectors. MGMG programme encourages scientists to adopt specific villages, interact with farmers, and work closely with them to demonstrate improved farming practices, better animal care, and the introduction of new agricultural technologies. Currently, the institute adopted 125 villages under MGMG with 125 scientitsts into 25 teams. Every week the team visit to their assign and adopted villages to interact with the farmers to resolve their queries establish linkage with various organization, identify field problems & organize extension programmes for the benefit of the rural communities.