Name:  Dr. Ravindra Kumar Sohane

Designation:  Director of Extension Education

Email:  deebausabour@gmail.com

Director’s profile:

        Dr. Ravindra Kumar Sohane has been working as Director Extension Education of Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour and has got the additional charge of the Directorate of Planning very recently. As Director Extension Education he has made remarkable contributions in the area of Agricultural Extension through employing innovative ICT tools. He also had the opportunity to serve as Registrar, Nodal officer of ICAR and RKVY, Director CAFT, Chairman Department of Extension Education, Member and Chairman of various committees, governing bodies at state and national level. Dr. Sohane in his career has successfully implemented projects worth of Rs. 275 Crores in agriculture. He has more than 200 publications to his credit in the form of research, review, popular articles, book chapters, farmers’ diaries and technical bulletins. He has developed and implemented several innovative extension methodologies like Bio-village, Seed village,Climate-smart villages, Kisan Mitra, Kisan Pathsala, Kisan Choupal, Kisan Gyan Rath, Outdoor video broadcasting, Micro-SD Card etc. He has the credit to successfully organizing 93 skill development programmes covering about 2438 participants across 13 skill domains. He participated in an international workshop at Washington, D.C, USA and visited Ethiopia for India-Ethiopia Exchange Visit on Pluralistic Agriculture Extension Systems.

      Dr. Sohane has been awarded with several awards and honours like, National e-Governance Award from ICT initiative in Agriculture, Best Extensionist Award by Animal Nutritional Society of India (ANSI), ICAR- Swami Sahajanand Sarswati Award for Seed-village concept, Best Young Agricultural Scientist from UPCAR, Lucknow, Dr. S. P. Arora Award for Best Research Paper by Animal Nutritional Society of India (ANSI), Best Extension Professional Award, Society of Extension Education, Agra, Agri Extension awards for excellence in the category of leadership in agricultural extension projects by Agricultre Today Group, Dr. R. S. Paroda Medal by Bioved Research Society, Prayagraj etc. Our TSP (Tribal Sub Plan) work documentary “Umeed: A Hope” secured Second Prize in 5th National Film Festival n Rural Development 2021 at NIRD, Hyderabad. Dr. Sohane is fellow of different societies.

Statutory Functions:

• To develop and draw of programmes of extension education in the university
• To prepare budget estimates for extension education and to supervise this implementation
• To organize inter-faculty co-ordination with extension education programmes
• To develop mass communication and media and to direct for preparation and distribution of materials such as publications and films
• To provide supplementary service to farmers in testing of soil, seeds and implements and in plant protection services including value addition
• To provide integration of extension education with research and teaching
• To organize and supervise the University’s public relations and information services
• To develop extension network in Krishi Vigyan Kendras in Collaboration with the Directorate of Research and other units of the University/other organizations and
• He will be responsible for conducting of Extension Education Council meeting

Statutory committees under the directorate and their members list with designation:

The Constitution, Power and Function of Extension Education Council

There shall be an Extension Education Council consisting of

1. Chairman: Vice-Chancellor
2. Members
   1. Agriculture Production Commissioner, Bihar
   2. Director of Agriculture, Bihar
   3. Director of Animal Husbandry, Bihar
   4. Director of Fisheries, Bihar
   5. Director Research of the University
   6. All Deans and Associate Deans, Associate Director Extension Education
   7. Regional Directors/Director of different Research Institutes of the University
   8. University Professors to be nominated by the Vice- Chancellor for particular meeting according to the requirements of the agenda
   9. Director Extension Education of other SAU of the State
   10. One representative each of the under mentioned organizations, as decided by the Vice-Chancellor
       1. Irrigation Department of the Government of Bihar
       2. Minor Irrigation Department of the Government of Bihar
       3. Community Development Department of the Government of Bihar
       4. Revenue Department of the Government of Bihar
       5. Planning Department of the Government of Bihar
       6. Co-operative Department of the Government of Bihar
       7. Bihar State Agro-Industries Development Cooperation
       8. Dairy Development Cooperation of the Government of Bihar
       9. Bihar State Electricity Board
       10. IFFCO/NFL
       11. National Seeds Corporation; and
       12. Any other Agro Industries or Agro-Services Organization
       13. NGOs
   11. Two eminent persons in the field of Extension Education from outside the university to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor for any particular meeting in accordance with the requirements of the agenda
   12. Three Progressive Farmers specialized in general Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Allied Sciences to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor for their specialized knowledge and experience

    C. Member Secretary- Director Extension Education

Brief achievements:

   The Directorate of Extension Education of BAU, Sabour is the nodal agency to plan, organize, coordinate, evaluate and monitor the extension education activities of the University. The Directorate assisting Krishi Vigyan Kendra, which is a plan scheme of ICAR, plays a vital role in facilitating application of agricultural technologies by the farmers. KVKs organizes need based training programme for capacity building of the stakeholders in order to cater awareness on improved agricultural technologies through appropriate extension activities. The assessment, refinement and demonstration of technologies are carried out by the KVKs with technological back stopping from directorate and by partnering with farmers and other stake holders in the system. The directorate have also been guided KVKs to work on the areas of On and Off-farm employment generation for the rural youth to prevent migration and wastage of human resources. Successful enterprise development in Bee-keeping, Mushroom Production, Organic Farming, Craft Making, and Backyard Poultry etc. has paved the path for rural youth and women farmers to take up such enterprises with renowned vigour.

            Directorate of Extension Education has enabled convergence and linkages with ICAR institutions, Development Departments, ATMA, Lead Banks, NABARD, WDC, JEEVIKA, ITC and reputed NGOs while carrying out their mandated activities. KVKs are actively involved in different flagship programmes of Govt. of Bihar. 

         The directorate has already started the Kisan Choupal, an innovative step to revive the rich tradition of the villages. This scheme of the University was appreciated by ICAR. This scheme has successfully completed 12 years now. Thousand number of  Kisan Choupal were organized in which more than 5.00 Lakhs farmers including farm women and extension functionaries participated.

Directorate of Extension Education organized Kisan Mela every year on different themes to educate the farming communities on improved agriculture & allied subjects.

For the public education, Directorate & KVKs published different types of farmer friendly publication in vernacular language and manuals for under graduate students on different subjects.

The directorate has connected with KVKs through video conferencing facilities for updates on new research and technology from the Headquarters. All KVKs have their own website containing information for the farmers and other stakeholders. Through Kisan Help Line, toll free number is provided to resolve farmers’ queries along with farm advisory services in vernacular languages through SMS messages.

Services provided by the directorate:

Mandate of KVK- Technology Assessment and Demonstration for its Application and Capacity Development.

To implement the mandate effectively, the following activities are envisaged for each KVK

1. On-farm testing to assess the location specificity of agricultural technologies under various farming systems.
2. Frontline demonstrations to establish production potential of technologies on the farmers’ fields.
3. Capacity development of farmers and extension personnel to update their knowledge and skills on modern agricultural technologies.
4. To work as Knowledge and Resource Centre of agricultural technologies for supporting initiatives of public, private and voluntary sector in improving the agricultural economy of the district.
5. Provide farm advisories using ICT and other media means on varied subjects of interest to farmers

In addition, KVKs produce quality technological products (seed, planting material, bio-agents and livestock) and make it available to farmers, organize frontline extension activities, identify and document selected farm innovations and converge with ongoing schemes and programs within the mandate of KVK.

There are 22 Krishi Vigyan Kendras under jurisdiction of Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur namely- Araria, Arwal, Aurangabad, Banka, Bhagalpur, Bhojpur, Gaya-I, Gaya-II, Jehanabad, Katihar, Khagaria, Kishanganj, Lakhisarai, Madhepura, Munger, Nalanda, Patna, Purnea, Rohtas, Saharsa, Sheikhpura and Supaul.

BAU, Sabour provides technical support to NGO KVKs, Nawada and Kaimur.

Staff directory:

Revenue generated (Directorate) (year wise for last five years):

AWARDS RECEIVED BY KVKs/FARMERS :

AWARDS RECEIVED BY FARMERS :

Projects sanction by DBT, Govt. of India

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