Presentation on Agriculture in Pakistan and CSISA initiative

Presented at IRRI Head Quarter by Dr. Muhammad Aqil Khan, Country Coordinator, CSISA, Pakistan

Bed Planting in Wheat

Zero-Til Planting in Wheat

Training of trainers by CSISA, Pakistan

The In-Service Training Institute, Sargodha, Pakistan is an important institute imparting training to the in- service Agri. Ext. staff and conducting three years diploma course of Field Assistant class. The Director Agriculture/Principal of the institute made request to CSISA, Pakistan for training of a batch of Agriculture Officers (AOs) in Conservation Agriculture Technologies (CATs). A group of 17 trainee AOs headed by Dr. Munawar Noor, Deputy Director Agriculture,   visited CSISA, Pakistan office on October 21, 2011. Dr. Muhammad Aqil Khan Country Coordinator gave a detailed lecture on CATs. The salient features of the 0-til, Bed Planting, Relay Cropping of wheat in cotton and Inter cropping were explained to the participants. The country coordinator also gave an introduction of the CSISA project launched jointly by CIMMYT (Mexico) and IRRI (Philippines) in South Asia. The flexes of field demonstrations of CATs were also presented during lecture acting upon the proverb “Seeing is believing”, an important tool of extension agents. The participants were belonging to various districts of Punjab. During the question answer session Dr. Khan responded to all queries. The literature developed on CATs by CSISA, Pakistan was given to all the participants. 

Dr. Khan addressing the trainees

Participants

Field Day on DSR at Kot Ladha District Gujranwala, Pakistan

Another field day on DSR demonstration was conducted at Kot Ladha District Gujranwala on October 15, 2011 in collaboration with Agriculture Ext. Executive District Officer Agriculture, Hafizabad, District officer Agri (Ext.) Hafizabad and District Agri.( Ext.) Gujranwala joined the event with their field staff. One thing very important to highlight is that Agriculture Officer Kot Ladha Mr. Bashir Ahmed was very much impressed with DSR technology during a training conducted by CSISA, Pakistan at Plant Protection Research Institute, AARI Faisalabad. He then inspired the farmers for DSR adoption. Field day was at one of the four farmer’s demonstrations so motivated.  Total participation was 93 with bifurcation of 82 farmers and 11 Agri. Ext. staff. Dr. Muhammad Aqil Khan Country Coordinator CSISA, Pakistan apprised the participants in detail about the success, weed problems and its effective chemical control in DSR. The other CATs such as zero til, Bed planting, relay cropping in cotton, inter cropping and various functions of CSISA planter were also explained to the participants with the help of flexi charts. The farmers raised many queries during question-answer session about DSR and other CATs which were addressed properly.

Dr. Khan addressing

Explaining CATs with flaxy charts

Participants of field day

Field Day on DSR at Fateh Muhammad Kalan – Kasur, Pakistan

To popularize the DSR technology and for giving its more details to the farmers CSISA Pakistan planned conducting  series of field days at DSR demonstrations at farmer fields. This was the third arranged on September 22, 2011at Fateh Muhammad Kalan in district Kasur. The total participation was 142 with bifurcation of 128 farmers, 4 Agri. Ext. and 10 from private sector. CSISA team was represented by Rana Farman Ali Khan Extension Agronomist and Hafiz Naveed Ramzan Research Associate. Rana Farman Extension Agronomist CSISA Pakistan explained the participants details of DSR specially weed challenges and its management. Other CATs such as 0-til, BP, relay cropping of wheat in cotton and inter cropping were also discussed as it was a multi-cropped area and gathering of farmers. Flexi charts of various field demonstrations were also presented showing the performance of CATs. Benefits of CATs regarding cost & water saving, timely planting of wheat, environment friendly and no compromise on yield remained of great interest amongst the farmers. It will be interesting to know that Turmeric is a special crop of the area. The farmer was an Agri. graduate and worked with CSISA as an intern. Hafiz Naveed gave a brief introduction of CSISA project funded by International research institutes IRRI and CIMMYT both technically and financially.

Rana Farman Ali Khan addressing participants

Hafiz Naveed Ramzan addressing participants

Farmer expressing his views

Participants at the occasion

DSR demonstration field

Workshop on Hub Communication Platform at Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad

One day workshop on Hub Communication Platform was conducted on 05-10-2011 at Biotechnology Research Institute, AARI under the auspices of CSISA, Pakistan. A resource person Mrs. Neelam Chaudhary was originally assigned to conduct the workshop but due to delay in her visa processing she could not join the workshop so a resource person from University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Mr. Salman Afsar was registered to replace her. Thirty four persons including 9 women participated the workshop. Participants came across the wide spectrum-UAF, Research, extension, private sector, farmer representative NGO, Farmer Organization and farmers.

The workshop proceedings started with recitation from Holy Quran. Dr. Muhammad Aqil Khan Country Coordinator, CSISA, Pakistan presented the welcome address explaining the objectives of the workshop and CSISA, Pakistan activities carried on. Dr. Noor-ul-Islam Director General AARI formally inaugurated the workshop and gave his valuable remarks about the presence of all the concerned stakeholders and usefulness of the workshop for the researchers as well. He thanked CSISA, Pakistan to take the lead for conducting such a workshop beneficial for researchers, agriculture extensionists and farmers. The directors Cotton, Oilseed, Sugarcane, Vegetable, Agronomy, Soil Chemistry and Environmental Sciences and Biotechnology Research Institutes also joined this important workshop.

Welcoming the chief guest and participants, Dr. Muhammad Aqil Khan highlighted the purpose and scope of the workshop and importance of acquiring the learning of modern communication skills and tools for bringing a change in the attitude of farming community. He drew the attention to the skewed food supply and demand equation and to the further versioning agriculture situations which demand use of latest information in research and extension to deliver the information needs by farmers.

Dr. Muhammad Aqil Khan also explained that CSISA project was launched by CIMMYT and IRRI to promote conservation agriculture practices and at the same time eradication of poverty, hunger and making the agriculture easy, cheap and simple. Now was a tea break.

After word Dr. Muhammad Aqil Khan gave introduction and surface view of CKB in his presentation. He told that CIMMYT and IRRI have placed several knowledge sites and CKB is one of them. Online usage of different options available on CKB especially crop doctors were demonstrated to the participants.

Hafiz Naveed Ramzan of CSISA, Pakistan after briefing the HCP gave the online demo of HCP and its modules - weather pin, pest monitor and adoption survey. He also briefed the participants about the importance and simple procedure for free registration to enjoy downloads options especially aWhere Desktop and library a maps.

Mr. Salman Afsar, the resource person apprised the participants about the working of GPS. He explained how satellites are being used for the progress and welfare of the people in the world. The coordinates obtained with the help of GPS are very useful for site specific crop management operations in agriculture. The workshop proceedings were held up for lunch break.

In another presentation the resource person explained the important features about use of aWhere desktop. He explained how it can be used for making maps, graphs and for analysis in addition to other options. The participants were engaged in downloading and installation of aWhere Desktop. He also carried out a practical exercise by the participants regarding using of aWhere desktop making the session interactive and participatory. At this occasion Dr. Aqil Khan shared a quick view of Hub Characterization Report of Eastern UP Hub with the participants as an example.

Dr. Javed Akhtar, Director presided over the certificate distribution session. He gave valuable remarks about such a useful workshop for all stakeholders of agriculture sector. He also explained the usefulness of IT tools in research and dissemination of results. He appreciated efforts of CSISA, Pakistan for such new areas.

Country Coordinator CSISA-Pakistan, DGA (Res.),

AARI, Director CRI at Stage

Resource Person giving presentation

Director NIAB awarding certificates

Group photo of participants

Workshop on Mass Communication Skills in Agriculture at UAF, Pakistan

 A workshop on Mass Communication Skills in Agriculture was held at University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Pakistan on 4^th October 2011 under the aegis of CSISA, Pakistan. Two resource persons Mr. Ravikanth and Mrs. Neelam Chaudhary were originally assigned to conduct the workshop but due to delay in their visa processing they could not join the workshop so two resource persons from University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Dr. Khalid Mehmood Chaudhary and Dr. Athar Javed Khan were registered to replace them. Forty persons including 4 women participated the workshop. Participants came across the wide spectrum-UAF, Research, extension, private sector, farmer representative NGO, Farmer Organization and farmers.

Welcoming the chief guest and participants, Dr. Muhammad Aqil Khan highlighted the purposes and scope of the workshop and importance of acquiring the learning of modern communication skills and tools for bringing a change in the attitude of farming community. He drew the attention to the skewed food supply and demand equation and to the further versioning agriculture situations which demand use of latest information in research and extension to deliver the information needs by farmers.

The workshop was inaugurated by the acting Vice Chancellor University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Professor Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq. Inaugurating the workshop Vice Chancellor drew the attention of audience to the high yields that are harvested in crop competition cuts and the dismal national average. This is despite of the fact that Pakistan is blessed with best natural resources and crop production technologies in almost all crops which can ensure surplus exists. The gap, he pointed out, is due to farming community unawareness. This is where the communication skills are needed. So he thanked the CSISA, Pakistan for holding this workshop which is pivotal. Director Fruit & Vegetable Project extension wing of agriculture department spoke of the challenges in transfer of agricultural technologies in Punjab. He pointed to lack of proper planning, low priority to agriculture, poor coordination resulting in duplication and wastage, inadequate private sector role, trade mafia and lack of site specific production technologies as a factor of hindering growth. Ameluation of this situation and investment in agriculture at all level would improve the situation he suggested. The inauguration session end at this point and broke for tea.

Technical session started at 11:15 and resource persons Dr. Khalid Mehmood Chaudhary and Dr. M. Athar Javed Khan gave first presentation on Communication Skills. They explained, it needs to be considered whether the communication is upward, downward or horizontal. The major principles of message giving as told were, be to the point, language of the audience, level of audience, innovation-better than the previous, shouting be avoided and don’t be bragging boaster. During the question answer session at the end of lecture while replying to a question Dr. Khalid said that never afraid of human behavior and be realistic.

The second presentation was on Overview, pictures & perspectives and common pitfalls in communications. He explained in this respect by giving examples of verses from the Holy Quran.

The third and very important lecture was on characteristics of a good communicator. It was explained with the help of video films. The participants divided into different groups were asked for their comments on the video films making the session participatory.  Concluding the lecture Dr. Khalid said that best communicator never always is best in all situations.

Dr. Muhammad Aqil Khan Country Coordinator, CSISA, Pakistan taking the advantage of this representative gathering explained the CA technologies with the help of flaxy charts displayed all around the video conference room. The explained technologies included 0-til, bed planting and relay cropping of wheat in cotton. The DSR and intercropping were also of great interest of the participants in addition to CSISA planter. The participants were told about the three dimensional working of CSISA planter – as bed planter, 0-til drill and conventional drill. Dr. Aqil Khan emphasized the wide spread adoption of CA technologies being the need of day, worldwide approved and adopted in the current scenario of population pressure and changing climate. This session was ended for lunch/prayer break.

After lunch the topic for discussion was Information Gathering Method. This session was again participatory and participants divided into four groups. While explaining the Mind Map Method the resource person said that it is making connection between ideas using long and short term memories. It is a fast and easy method for having an overview of a certain area or project. He also explained how to create a map by using this method. While preparing the map, planning, brainstorming, group thinking, requirement of gathering, testing and debugging and project management are the basics to proceed further.

The next topic was communication skills with specific reference to listening skills and presentation/ facilitation skills. The basic communication skills profile consists of listening, reading, writing and speaking as explained by the resource person. The listening skills were including hearing, attention, understanding and remembering. Reading skills comprise of skimming, scanning and reading in detail. Writing skills including writing for newspapers and technical papers were also briefed to the participants. Good communication skills mean expression of ideas, feelings, listening carefully others, asking questions, making the session interactive and participatory. The resource person further explained the skills for healthy group climate as openness, trust and self-discolor, support and respect. For an effective group process individual responsibility and accountability, constructive feedback, problem solving and knowledge of his role are quite important. He also explained the essentials of teamwork such as requirements for team work and team building, clearly defined team goal, good understanding and acceptance, loyalty to the team, reconciliation of differences and reducing emotional conflicts. The resource person briefly told about the Blind Fourth Methods that is touching, seeing, smelling and hearing by giving the example of an elephant and four blind people and further said that for effective team work coordination, balance between task & process, discussion by everyone, supportive, informal and group comfort ability are the basic needs.

The last presentation was about conducting a farmer meeting: simulation (showcasing the learning). Dr. Khalid Mehmood gave brief presentation on showcasing the learning and explained its significance. In showcasing utilize your page or new website, free membership, healthy learning, own work updated and invoking effective and productive participation.

At the end certificates were distributed among the participants, thanking all for their devotion and active participation for such a long time.

Acting Vice Chancellor giving inaugural address 

Country Coordinator CSISA Pakistan, Acting Vice Chancellor UAF,
 Ext. Agronomist CSISA at stage  - Left to Right 

Country Coordinator CSISA explaining CATs

Participants of the workshop

Group Photo of Participants

DSR field day at Chak No. 658/9, Jaranwala.

A field day was held at chak No. 658/9 GB on 20 September, 2011 at Jaranwala, Faisalabad to show DSR technology in operation to the farmers, researchers, extension workers and private sector organizations. One hundred and thirty farmers, 4 researchers, 4 extension workers and 6 private sector representatives participated the field day. DSR was planted by a farmer, Ch. Muhammad Irshad, who had earlier undertaken successful 0-til wheat planting on 8 acres. Explaining his operations the farmer elaborated his steps for the audience involved in raising DSR. He planted the crop broadcast in standing water using 16 kg seed per acre. The crop was excellent and favorably matching with PTR. But, due to high seed rate which farmer had used fearing that crop may fail due to this unknown technology, there was some lodging in the field. He was now convinced that the seed rate was on higher side and that lower seed rates (10-12 Kg/acre) is optimum. Crop condition other than some lodging was excellent and so was weed control. He had sprayed clover twice post emergence with an interval of 20 days after planting. The participants were shown around the field and they were able to discuss various issues on spot and later in the meeting. Dr. M. Aqil Khan explained CSISA efforts over the past two years relevant to DSR. He related the farmers CSISA experience in raising crop and controlling weeds. Weed dynamics, variation from field to field due to crop rotation and their control was explained.. At the end 0-til, bed planting and relay wheat planting in standing cotton were also explained in the light of previous experience. Farmers actively participated in the discussion and raised several questions on these technologies. Some farmers showed interest in CSISA planter also. 

Dr. M. Aqil Khan narrating CSISA efforts and experiences

Farmer explaining his DSR experiences.

Participants at the occasion

DSR field visit