eChapters

India, a predominantly agrarian nation, relies heavily on agriculture for livelihoods. Over the decades, agricultural policies have focused on increasing the supply and accessibility of staple grains. This strategy has successfully reduced hunger and transformed the country’s food system (Pingali et al., 2019). At the forefront of this transformation stands Punjab that played a pivotal role in moving India from a food scarcity to self-sufficiency. Punjab’s agricultural success is globally recognized, driven by the rapid technology adoption, enabled through synergy of infrastructure, incentives and most critically, information (Singh & Kohli, 1997). Among these drivers, dissemination through agricultural extension proved instrumental in ensuring that innovations such as high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, irrigation facilities and market incentives reached farmers effectively. While various factors contributed to Punjab’s growth, but agricultural extension remains a cornerstone, translating research breakthroughs into fieldlevel impact. Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has been a key catalyst in this journey. while serving as a premier institution in agricultural research, education, and extension. PAU’s extension system has evolved in response to shifting agricultural needs, environmental challenges, and technological advancements. Beginning in 1960s, PAU led the Green Revolution by introducing HYVs and modern agricultural inputs through a dedicated, farmer-focused extension network (Gulati et al., 2018). In its early decades, PAU’s extension services emphasized increasing productivity through mechanization and the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Initiatives such as Kisan Melas (Farmers’ Fairs) and Kisan Clubs’ facilitated knowledge transfer to rural communities, fostering large-scale adoption of new technologies. However, by the late 1980s, concerns such as soil degradation and pest resistance prompted a strategic pivot. The PAU approach shifted from purely productivity-focused methods to more sustainable and diversified practices such as Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), integrated weed management (IWM) Integrated Pest Management (IPM), water conservation, etc. Today, PAU continues to modernize its extension practices through participatory, farmer-centric approaches. The current emphasis lies in promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, adaptability and sustainability through a blend of traditional outreach and modern ICT tools. Notable innovative approaches include e-extension services via mobile apps and online portals, real-time advisory systems through SMS and digital platforms, hybrid training modules

Introduction
In Indian agriculture and its sub sectors contribute for about 18.4 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Globally, our country is being rated as on of the rapid growing major economies and rated as fifth largest economy by nominal GDP and in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) its 3rd largest in the world. The horticultural crops have a special place in India’s economy because they raise rural residents’ incomes. India’s horticulture production has surpassed food grain production and reached 320.11 million MT which is a huge accomplishment. In Andhra Pradesh the horticulture crops are spread across 17.84 lakh ha with 312.34 lakh MT yield. Andhra Pradesh is first in terms of fruit and spice producing area, and second in terms of micro irrigation area coverage. The horticulture industry makes for around 16.07 percent of the state Gross Value Addition. In India, Andhra Pradesh ranks first in the production of tomatoes, oil palm, papaya, cocoa, chillies, and cocoa, and second in cashew, mango, and sweet orange. Horticulture is increasingly being recognized as a sunrise industry because of its potential to boost farm income, provide a stable source of livelihood, and generate foreign exchange through exports. India’s distinctive agro-climatic conditions, coupled with its vast diversity of crops and genetic resources, enable the country to produce a wide range of horticultural crops year-round. The Government of Andhra Pradesh crafted Andhra Pradesh Horticultural University in Venkataramannagudem, West Godavari district in 2007, subsequently renamed as Dr. YSR Horticultural University in 2011. This was done in recognition of the importance of horticulture, its development potential in the state, and its contribution to the GDP. The university’s mission is to develop human resources by teaching, doing research that is focused on local needs and conditions, and disseminating tested technologies through Extension operations. The university is working on technology transfer (extension activities) through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Horticultural Research Stations (HRSs), Colleges of Horticulture, and Horticultural Polytechnics, as well as through Rythu Bharosa Kendrams (RBKs), District Resource Centers (DRCs), and the Department of Horticulture, Government of Andhra Pradesh. To “Reach the

Introduction
Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU),
Bidar started in the year 2005 exclusively for the development of education and learning; conduct of research and extension education and transfer of rural oriented technologies in the areas of Veterinary, Animal, Dairy and Fisheries Sciences in Karnataka. The logo of the University is inscribed with the slogan “Farmers Friendly and Rural Oriented”, which emphasizes the importance given to betterment of farming community. The mission of Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU), Bidar, is to strive hard and provide leadership in teaching, research and extension education services related to Veterinary and Animal sciences, Dairy sciences, Fisheries and other allied sciences. The University endeavor is to keep pace with new frontiers of science and contemporary developments to be socially and technically relevant. In this context, KVAFSU is strongly committed in absorbing newer paradigms and using them to develop excellent human resource, innovative technologies and their dissemination so as to serve the livestock and fishery farming community of the state and the country. Various extension educational activities are undertaken by the university at various levels, viz., Extension Education, Extension Research, Extension Work and Extension Service. Collaborative activities are being planned and implemented in association with various stakeholders like Farmers, Farmers’ organizations, Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Karnataka Milk Federation, etc. Besides conducting routine extension activities like trainings, demonstrations, animal health camps, field trips, field tours, campaigns, livestock shows etc., KVAFSU has come out with some innovative approaches in extension education. Which are presented in this book chapter. Extension activities are undertaken mainly under two categories, i.e. university / college activities and collaborative / sponsored activities.
I. Innovative Extension Approaches Under University / College Activities Organization of Radio Series for Farming Community Radio remains an effective medium for disseminating veterinary knowledge, especially in rural areas. KVAFSU collaborates with radio stations to
• Broadcast expert talks on Veterinary and Animal Husbandry topics. More than 150 expert talks from Veterinary college Hassan, entitled as Gokulavani series, Kukkutavani series, Hainnu Honnu series I, II, II are broadcasted through AIR Hassan. Presently, Hainnu Honnu series IV is being executed with another 50 series of expert talks and skits as well.

Introduction 
Rural entrepreneurship is not only important as a means of generating employment opportunities in the rural areas with low capital cost and raising the real income of the people, but also its contribution to the development of agriculture and urban industries Building capacity of Rural Agri-prenuers are a promising solution for unemployment (Renuka, 2020), migration, economic disparity, reduce poverty, development of rural areas and backward regions. Most of the rural populace is associated with agriculture and allied activities as pedigree occupation. However, to be commercially viable, these units need to sharpen their skill sets to thrive as a successful venture. India is home to about 700 tribal groups with a population of 104 million, as per 2011 census. This indigenous people constitute the second largest tribal population in the world after Africa. Tribal population of Jammu & Kashmir is among the nascent Tribal Groups joining the main stream of planned development, to which they have brought a distinct and colourful cultural variety. Their economy is closely linked with the forests and they are living a substandard life because of their primitive mode of livelihood. Majority of them are placed below the poverty line, possessing meagre assets and are exclusively dependent on wages, forest produce and farming, that too in a traditional way which leads to non remunerative returns. The peculiar aspect of tribals of our state is their scattered population who inhabit the difficult and remote geographic terrains which poses a severe threat to their speedy development. In J&K state the following communities have been declared as scheduled tribes 1. Balti, 2. Beda, 3. Bot, Bota, 4. Brokpa, Drokpa, Dard, Shin, 5. Changpa, Garran, 6. Mon, 8. Purigpa, 9. Gujjar, 10. Bakerwal, 11. Gaddi and 12. Sippi.

Introduction
In the paradigm of development, the Government of India generated a Central Sector Scheme for the people associated with agriculture – a sector contributing to 18.2 per cent of the nation’s GDP, titled “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs)” with major focus on upheaval of farming community. With well-defined strategy and committed resources the Scheme is set-out to formulate 10,000 new FPOs in the country with budgetary provision of Rs 6865 crore. At the core of formation of each FPO, that are to be developed in produce clusters, wherein agricultural and horticultural produces are grown / cultivated for leveraging economies of scale and improving market access for members. “One District-One Product” cluster to promote specialization and better processing, marketing, branding & export. Under this Central Sector Scheme with funding from Government of India, Formation & Promotion of FPOs are to be done through the Implementing Agencies (IAs). Presently 09 Implementing Agencies (IAs) have been finalized for formation and promotion of FPOs viz. Small Farmers Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC), National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC), Tamil Nadu-Small Farmers Agri-Business Consortium (TN-SFAC), Small Farmers Agri-Business Consortium Haryana (SFACH), Watershed Development Department (WDD)- Karnataka, and Foundation for Development of Rural Value Chains (FDRVC)- Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD). The Implementing Agencies (IAs) engage Cluster Based Business Organizations (CBBOs) to aggregate, register & provide professional handholding support to each FPO for a period of 5 years. CBBOs have been empanelled & engaged by IAs. CBBOs operate as an end-to-end knowledge for all issues related to FPO promotion. During 2020-21, a total of 2200 FPO produce clusters were allocated for formation of FPOs, which also include specialized FPO produce clusters such as 100 FPOs for Organic, 100 FPOs for Oil seeds, etc. Of these, 369 FPOs are targeted for 115 aspirational districts in the country. Additionally, NAFED would form the specialized FPOs which should necessarily be forwardly linked to the market, agri-value chain, etc. NAFED will provide market and value chain linkages to the FPOs formed by other Implementing Agencies. NAFED has formed & registered 05 Honey FPOs during current year in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and West Bengal. FPOs are earmarked to provide financial assistance upto Rs 18.00 lakh per FPO for a period of 03 years. In addition to this, provision has been made for matching equity grant upto Rs. 2,000 per farmer member of FPO with a limit of Rs. 15.00 lakh per FPO and a credit guarantee facility upto Rs. 2 crore of project loan per FPO from eligible lending institution to ensure institutional credit accessibility to FPOs.

Introduction 
The agriculture scenario has evolved considerably over the years. In the present context, consumers need diverse, safe and nutritious food which calls for a major reorganisation of the agricultural value chains to support transformation from the traditional production-oriented supply chains to demand-based approaches. Trade liberalization has further intensified competition by exposing farmers to both domestic and international markets, compelling them to meet elevated standards in terms of product quality and pricing. Therefore, the primary focus should be on enhancing technical expertise, managerial capabilities and access to timely information to enable smallholder farmers not only to strengthen their livelihoods but also enhance their marketing skills amid the fast-evolving global economic landscape. Access to true information is equally essential for addressing growing challenges related to natural resource degradation and climate change. Extension in Indian context, play a vital role in bridging the knowledge gap between research institutions and farmers by providing a range of advisory amenities and facilitate expertise application, transmission and management in the farmer’s fields. Perhaps, agricultural extension is the only service at the ground-level that can provide essential knowledge, guidance, information as well as assistance to the farmers and the stakeholders. There has been extensive range of transformation and inventiveness in agricultural extension services in India; however, the exposure and access to information which were disseminated to marginal and underprivileged farmers are uneven and patchy. Likewise, in real situation a huge gap existed between the technology developed/released and the technology disseminated/adopted. A study by NSSO (National Sample Survey Organisation), 2014, highlighted that the almost 59 per cent of the farm families refrained from any assistance from either government or private extension services. In the country, 40.6 per cent households received extension assistance while, only 11 per cent of the services came from physical government machineries. At present hardly onethird of the technology developed at the research organizations has reached the farming community and the statistics of adoption/application of such technology at field level is even less than that. Practical application of many of our recommended agricultural technologies in the field is very much difficult either because of the complex nature of the technology or inputs so prescribed are not readily available in nearby areas. Moreover, most of the extension machineries tend to work in isolation from each other. The production-oriented strategy which was the sole focus of earlier extension services, needs to be expanded to market-led strategy to deal with the novel