Technology Transfer Modules of Punjab Agricultural University used for Agricultural Development in Punjab

Since the foundation of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), practical extension work in agriculture has been undertaken besides education and research at university. Remarkable features of PAU extension system are direct assessment of farmers’ needs, need-oriented research, quality training for state personnel, and a strong linkage between academic education and field practice. It has its own multidisciplinary extension team in each district in FASS and KVKs, who are engaged in adaptive research, on farm research, training, and consultancy. These extension workers are working like transmitters and receivers of experiences from researchers, farmers, and state extension workers. Regular workshops are held which unite university and department staff from research and extension together with outstanding farmers. Strength of PAU extension system is its literature where apart from regular monthly magazine, all the latest research findings are published as a “Package of Practices” for all the crops recommended for the zone in local language every year before the commencement of cropping season. Considering person-to-person communication has traditionally been the most important form of information transfer. Thus PAU has registered many commodity based clubs and training youth in large numbers, for the formidable task of disseminating useful and practical information from the research base to the rural farm families. Similarly the latest modes of communication are being exploited by providing advisory through SMS on phone and emails. Such experiences have been documented in this paper.