24 February 2025, Kolkata: Under a shared vision for transformative agricultural development, the Zonal Workshop of the Farmer FIRST Programme (FFP) unfolded in a symphony of ideas and aspirations. Hosted in hybrid mode at ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata, the workshop was chaired by Dr Pradip Dey, Director-cum-Chairman, Zonal Programme Management Committee (ZPMC), FFP, bringing together five centers.
The Chief Guest, Dr T. K. Datta, Vice-Chancellor, West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences (WBUAFS), Kolkata, underscored the essence of farmer-centric, data-driven interventions, urging a nuanced need and perception analysis to pave the way for sustainable, nutritionally secure agriculture.
Dr R. Roy Burman, Assistant Director General (AE), ICAR, elevated the discourse by highlighting FFP’s national significance, advocating for micro-level agro-ecosystem analysis, and the horizontal scaling of usable technological modules to ensure sustainability beyond the project’s tenure.
In his presidential address, Dr Pradip Dey envisioned a collaborative evolution for FFP centers, advocating for an analytical approach beyond the conventional benefit-cost ratio. His emphasis on ranking modules based on carbon and water footprint, mobile applications, and farmer feedback loops resonated as guiding principles for shaping impactful agricultural innovations.
Prof. B. K. Sil, Director, Extension Research and Farms (DERF), WBUAFS, shed light on the socio-economic transformation of marginalized communities through farmer-centric interventions.
A moment of recognition illuminated the event as ICAR-IIWM, Bhubaneswar, was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for its outstanding presentation, setting a benchmark in excellence.
The technical session featured the PIs and Co-PIs of the four existing FFP centers—CRRI, CIFA, IIWM, and OUAT—presenting their physical and financial achievements for 2024-25, while the newly added center, WBUAFS, unveiled its Action Plan, which was critically reviewed by the panel.
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