Conference Report

North Maharashtra university, Jalgaon

Department of Adult & Continuing Education and Extension Services (ACEES)

Conference on Rural Development: Challenges, Opportunities and Scope 25th

– 26th March 2011 Shikshak Bhavan, NMU Campus, Jalgaon

Introduction

A majority of the total Indian population live in the villages, scattered throughout the country. The rural population in India comprises the core of Indian society which represents the real India. According to the 2001 census, there are 638,365 villages in India. About 74% of Indian population lives in theses villages.

Maximum rural population survives on agriculture and allied occupations in the rural habitat. The sustainable development of rural economy is totally depends on a skillful convergence of science, technology and local traditions of agriculture practices.

The Event

Considering the above mentioned facts, ACEES has plan & initiated the Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD), under which two days conference on rural development was held in North Maharashtra University campus Jalgaon. The objective of plenary session was to brainstorm with participants, i.e., Government Officers, NGO’s agricultural scientist and students, to formulate an intervention strategy for sustainable development of rural agriculture in the North Maharashtra (Khandesh) region.

“Conference on Rural Development: Challenges, Opportunities and Scope” CARD, ACEES, NMU, Jalgaon……. 25th-26th March 2011.

The program

Spanning over two days of activities, the conference covered following sessions as two plenary sessions, two technical with three key note sessions.

After lunch break group discussions were organized on both the days. In two days workshop was debated not only by all speakers but also by audiences on the rural/ agricultural issues, its scope and limitations.

Participation

The conference witnessed a participation of nearly 40 delegates representing Government

Departments, academic institutions, Non Governmental organization and a scientist from agro/irrigational industry

Key note session

The keynote session of the conference had a series of interesting deliberation on multitude of issues, relating to present challenges, scope, innovation and opportunities for agricultural livelihood. It was marked by eminent speakers from the Government, Academic institutions and Industry.

Five key speakers were engaged as a resource person for two days brainstorming conference. First day sessions were carried out by three speakers as follows

i) Mr. Anil Bhokhare, who is the eminent technical officer of Agricultural Department of jalgaon district, focused on “The Agriculture Challenges and Opportunities In 21st

Century”.


ii) To confer the opportunities in agrobased rural industrialization, Mr. Anirudha Mirikar, who is State Coordinator of Sampada Trust, Ahmednagar, has directed audience.

iii) In the session of Mrs. Shailatai Sawant, the activist and social worker, she explained lively about health, livelihood and identity issues of rural women.

iii) The second day’s session was begun with the Gandhian ideological lecture by Mr. Pramod Kullkarni.A senior HR trainer from Nagpur He explained dream of Gram Swaraj in todays rural india.

iv) It was followed by in detail technical conference on “Challenges of Rural India on the aspect of Health, Water and Employment” by Dr. Soham Pandaya, Director, Department of Environment in “Centre of Sciences for Villages, Dattapur Wardha”.

Key speakers

1. Mr. Anirudha Mirikar, State Coordinator, “Sampada Trust, Ahmednagar”

2. Mr. Anil Bhokhare, technical officer, Department of Agriculture, jalgaon

3. Mrs. Shailatai Sawant, Social Worker, Bhusawal

4. Mr. Pramod Kullkarni, Social Worker, Nagpur

5. Dr. Soham Pandaya, Director, Department of Environment in “ Centre of Sciences for Villages, Dattapur, Wardha”

Participants feed back

“It was a great opportunity for us to develop networking with the academic institution i.e. NMU and to building up the additional knowledge for rural development”, - Mr. G.A. Patil, BAIF Mittra, Jalgaon


“Brainstorming session was full of practical challenges, opportunities and scope for rural livelihood”-Prof. S. N. Patil, a farmer? Rani Laxmibai Mahavidyalay, Parola

“Sustainable rural development can be achieved by the effort of SHG’s and knowledge enriching conferences of this kind”- Mrs.Bharati Patil, Social Worker, Jamner

“Intercropping and organic farming is the crux of healthy rural livelihood”- Mr. Arun Patil, Farmer, Kherchi

“Traditional herbal knowledge and develop science can create wonders in the growth of rural economy”- Dr. Jade, Agriculture Scientist, Jain group of industries Pvt. Ltd. Jalgaon .

Issues Raised

1. Agriculture Related Issues Decreased production of

crops Production cost is more

than market value of crops Crisis of labor in agri work Irregular rain and decreased

ground water level appropriate term?

High prizes of pesticides, fertilizers and seeds

2. Health Related Issues Poor hygiene and sanitation at

village level Open defecation Tobacco, Ghutkha

chewing and Alcoholism Inadequacy of potable

water Primary Health Centers (PHC)

Poor infrastructure Absence of Medical

officers Crisis of Medicines Corrupt practices of

Government Staff with local private medical practitioners

Ignorance and illiteracy in women about physical and psychological health problems

3. Education Related Issues Poor quality of education in

schools Irregular classes More absenteeism and drop

out ratio Girls education is neglected by

the family 4. Issues Related To Women Ignorance of women

participation in the Governance procedures of Panchayt Raj

Corrupt practices of Self Help Groups in community development of villages


Crisis of women identity in the traditional society

Female foeticide in Jalgaon district

Challenges

Mono cropping pattern is the current challenge in agricultural practices

Corruptpractices in Implementation of Govt. Schemes

Nonavailability of the labors for farming activities

Unwillingness of doctors to provide their services at village level

Inadequate irrigation facilities in the villages

Increase number of marginal farmers

Absence of agro business model at village level

Needs and Opportunities

Intercropping pattern in agriculture will help to improve production growth

Special assistance in the form of Govt. schemes and Easily accessibility subsidies from district agricultural department

Rural industrialization is the major opportunity for the farmers to increase income from agriculture produce

RTI is the major tool for the people to raise voice for social justice

Social awareness campaign for girl child and to enforce qualitative participation of women in governance.

Strengthen micro finance activities for rural development in villages

Increase literacy status of girl child

Scope

In the context of North Maharashtra region, it is observed that a strong, professional and motivated human resource is lacking in rural development especially in rural health and sanitation, education and agriculture activities.

Though Agriculture universities are established in Maharashtra, the schemes and research in agriculture field is not reaching to farmers in its true spirit.

Corruption in Government systems with all round de-motivation for students to practice agriculture activities is the major causes for failure of courses run by Agriculture universities.

It is possible to design short term rural development professional


courses for the rural youth of North Maharashtra region by the North Maharashtra University.

It will enable rural young generation to provide opportunities for accessibility of information, knowledge and skills regarding health, sanitation, hygiene agriculture and allied activities for rural development

As university is focusing on the target population of three districts i.e. Jalgaon, Dhule and Nadurbar, the professional inputs and practicability of rural development can be measured within definite period. The intervention strategies ought to be phase wise following each district.

Key points for course design on Rural Development1. Understanding Society2. Education and Development

practices 3. Political economy of Villages4. Local Governance bodies in

Villages5. Village economy and

agriculture6. Culture, Traditions and Health

practices in villages

Follow up Plan Activities

1. To discuss the proposed course structure for short term profession course on rural development

2. Meeting for deciding strategic plan for rural development of North Maharashtra Region in month of May 2011.

Conclusion:

‘Poor Health Facilities in Villages’, ‘Low Production Growth in Agriculture’, ‘Reluctance of Village People for participation in Strengthings Democratic Governance Processes’, ‘Unemployed Youth in the Villages’,‘Corrupt Implementation practices of Government Schemes’ were the key issues raised by the participants.

It was the voice that an urgent need from the North Maharashtra University to do an academic intervention for rural development by establishing an academic course structure.

Successful 2 days workshop was ended with appreciable thoughts for the initiatives taken by North Maharashtra University through Center for Agriculture and Rural Development.


Source of Funds

UGC (XI Plan Period)

Guidance & Organized by:

Shree S.P. Badgujar, DirectorAdult & Continuing Education and Extension Services, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon

Coordinated by:Mr. Vinayak V. Patil, Coordinator Centre for Agriculture & Rural Development

Documented byDr. Prashant S. Bhosale .


Conference Report

Documents

Transcript of Conference Report