MANAGE Awards Recognize Outstanding Achievements in Agricultural Extension

The National Institute for Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) celebrated the 3rd MANAGE Agricultural Extension Award ceremony, honouring exceptional contributions in the field. The event witnessed the presentation of awards for the Best Post-Graduate Thesis, Best Ph.D. Thesis, and Best Books in Agricultural Extension.

Esteemed personalities from the agricultural sector graced the occasion to acknowledge the winners and emphasize the importance of research in addressing the challenges faced by farmers.

Samuel Praveen Kumar, Joint Secretary (Extension) at the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, presented the awards and delivered a keynote address. Kumar emphasized the need to align agricultural extension research with national priorities and stressed the significance of applied research in addressing the issues faced by farmers across the country. His speech resonated with the audience, highlighting the importance of practical solutions in transforming the agricultural landscape.

Dr. P. Chandra Shekara, Director General of MANAGE, emphasized the importance of selecting research topics that directly address the problems faced at the grassroots level. He stressed that agricultural extension research should be focused on finding practical solutions to the challenges faced by farmers. Dr. Shekara expressed his confidence that the MANAGE Awards would inspire students, researchers, and academia to produce high-quality theses and books that effectively tackle the field-level agricultural challenges.

Under the coordination of Dr. N. Balasubramani, Director (SA&CCA) at MANAGE, the awards received an overwhelming response from participants across the country. MANAGE received a total of 46 Post-Graduate theses, 43 Ph.D. theses, and 30 books for the Awards-2022. To ensure fair evaluation, a jury consisting of 27 eminent subject experts meticulously assessed the theses and books based on predetermined criteria.

The winning theses explored a wide range of current and field-level issues, including natural farming practices, direct benefit transfers to farmers, farming YouTubers, vegetable marketing, social ecology of conservation agriculture, and ecological services. These research works stood out for their in-depth analysis and innovative approaches in addressing critical agricultural concerns.

In addition to the impressive theses, the award-winning books covered topics such as agricultural and animal husbandry extension, entrepreneurship development, and pig farming. These publications provide valuable insights and practical knowledge to further enhance the agricultural sector's productivity and sustainability.

By honoring outstanding research and publications, MANAGE aims to motivate and inspire more individuals to engage in high-quality, relevant research that directly addresses the pressing challenges faced by farmers across the nation.