DSR field day at Chiniot, Pakistan

S. Zulefqar Shah, a progressive farmer planted 4 acres of DSR, learning about this technology from CSISA-Pakistan website, at his farm located 20 km from Faisalabad. He planted 2 varieties; a hybrid and a local scented variety using 2 planting methods, drilling and broad cast. A field day was held at his farm on 28^th September, 2011. One hundred and twenty persons participated including 5 extension workers. Executive District Officer (Agriculture) and District Officer (Agri.) were the Agriculture Department (Extension) representatives. Zulefqar Shah first conducted the field tour of crop and explained his field practices. The participants were able to see crop, its health and field condition. There was a question-answer session in the field. Later at convention centre he dilated the story in details- his source of motivation, field practices undertaken and advantages & disadvantages of DSR encountered. Dr. M. Aqil Khan CSISA, Pakistan Coordinator gave a detailed treatise of the Conservation Agriculture (CA) including DSR. He showed the participants how DSR and CA practices make agriculture, easy, cheap, effective and efficient. Besides DSR impending wheat crop CA technologies were explained to the farmers. There were many rice and cotton growers so zero till planting of wheat in rice fields and relay cropping in cotton field were also discussed. Flexicharts of various CA technologies were presented in the meeting from present and previous years crops/experiments.  Many progressive farmers were there and they took keen interest in discussion. So a lengthy question-answer session followed the presentation. Dr. Khan particularly elaborated weed challenges in DSR. 

Farmer explaining his DSR experiences 

Dr. M. Aqil Khan narrating CSISA efforts and experiences

DSR field day at Okara, Pakistan

A field day was held on 8^th September, 2011 at chak Mehloke, Okara to demonstrate DSR technology to farmers. One hundred and thirty eight farmers, 10 extension workers and two private sector organization (Ali Akbar Enterprises) representatives participated the meeting. DSR was planted by the farmer – Pir Muhammad Shah -   who learned of the technology in one of CSISA, Pakistan meeting held at Okara. Explaining his operations Mr. Pir invited attention of the participants to the difficulties of rice planting farmers face: labour and water shortages and high cost of inputs are making rice cultivation increasingly prohibitive, he explained. DSR, he said, is God given opportunity to mitigate mounting problems. Explaining his operation, he first applied glyphosate before planting crop to control weeds. For this purpose he irrigated the field twice in April after wheat harvest to encourage weed germination. Glyphosate gave him good early stage weed control. He planted the crop broadcast in moist soil in worked field. Seed was broadcast after final cultivation and then covered with soil with planking. Bispyribac was applied after crop establishment. He used 14 kg seed per acre. This is his first DSR planting and has only one acre this year. Like all actors who undertake new idea, he and people around him were apprehensive until the crop establishment. When the germination was complete and crop was successfully established, his confidence restored and he proceeded with zeal to complete all other operations judicially and timely. The result is a wonderful crop which all appreciated and so convinced of the potential of the technology.

Explaining on the occasion Dr. M. Aqil Khan dilated on the objective of CSISA and its efforts to promote conservation agriculture. He explained how CA can make crop production easy, cheap, effective and efficient. Two years CSISA journey in DSR was traced by him and he explained the weed challenges encountered and overcome during this period. Weed control is the key to success of DSR, he explained and asked farmers to be vigilant of the dynamics and propensity of weeds from location to location which require accurately recognition of weeds by farmers for right measures otherwise wastage would add to cost. Dr. Khan further discussed zero till and bed planting for upcoming wheat crop. Farmers were shown flexi charts of various CA technologies.

CSISA, Pakistan distributed a number of leaflets on various aspects of CA initiatives/innovations.

Farmer explaining his experience  

Participants 

DSR field  

CSISA, Pakistan is organizing training workshops

Workshop on Mass communication skills in agriculture 

Venue: Video conferencing room University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Date: October 04, 2011
Program of workshop:

Time	Topic	Method	Resource Person
09.00 – 09.30	Registration		Fahad Mirza
09.30 – 09.35	Recitation from Holy Quran		Naveed Ramzan
09.35 – 10.00	Well come address		Dr. M. Aqil Khan  CSISA, Pakistan
10.00 – 10.10	Chief Guest’s remarks		Dr. Iqrar Ahmad  Khan  VC, UAF
10.10 – 10.30	Challenges of technology transfer in Punjab Pakistan		Dr. M. Anjum Ali  DG, Extension DGA (Ext. & AR)
10.30 – 11.05	Introduction –Program Schedule; Objectives;     Ice-breaker: Tale of 4 toys (Vikram-Betaal       Folklore)     Introduction : Participants	Exercise in pairs	Facilitation Team
11.05 – 11.20	Tea/Coffee Break
11.20 – 11.45	Communication Skills : Requirements in team approach	Blindfold game	Ravikanth
11.45 – 12.20	Communication: ·      Overview ·      Pictures & Perspectives ·      Common Pitfalls in communication	Interactive session   With visual content	Ravikanth
12.20 – 13.05	Characteristics of a good communicator:   Video film	Small group exercise	Ravikanth
13.05 – 14.00	Lunch
14.00 – 15.00	Information gathering : Mind map method	Small group exercise	Ravikanth
15.00 – 15.45	Communication skills: Specific reference to… ·      Listening skills ·      Presentation/facilitation skills	Interactive session   With visual content	Ravikanth
15.45 – 16.00	Coffee/Tea Break
16.00 – 16.20	Conducting a farmers’ meeting : Simulation (Showcasing the learning)	Small Group exercise and presentation	Ravikanth
16.20 – 17.00	Course Valediction: -          Concluding remarks by the Chief Guest -          Certificate presentation	Interactive session   With visual content	Dr. Noor ul Islam DGA (Res.) AARI

Workshop on Hub Communication Platform 
Venue: Biotechnology Research Institute  

Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Date: October 05, 2011

Program of workshop:

Time	Topic	Resource Person
09.00 – 09.30	Registration	Fahad Mirza
09.30 – 09.35	Recitation from Holy Quran	Naveed Ramzan
09.35 – 10.00	Welcome address	Dr. M. Aqil Khan  CSISA, Pakistan
10.00 – 10.10	Chief Guest’s remarks	Dr. Noor ul Islam  DGA (Res.) AARI
10.10 –  10.30 ­	Introduction – Program Schedule   Introduction  of Participants	Facilitation Team
10.30 – 11.05	Preface about HCP	Dr. Neelam Chaudhary
11.05 – 11.20	Tea/Coffee Break
11.20 – 11.45	Online usage of HCP and its modules	Participatory
11.45 – 12.20	Online demo of adoption survey tool	Dr. Neelam Chaudhary
12.20 – 13.05	GPS training	Hub team/Dr.  Neelam       Chaudhary
13.05 – 14.00	Lunch
14.00 – 15.00	Important features about use of aWhere desktop	Dr. Neelam Chaudhary
15.00 – 15.45	Practical exercise of using aWhere desktop	Participatory
15.45 – 16.00	Coffee/Tea Break
16.00 – 16.20	Feedback from the participants	Dr. Neelam Chaudhary
16.20 – 17.00	Concluding remarks by the Chief Guest  Certificate presentation	Dr. Sohail Hameed  Director NIBGE