Agricultural Training Phase II

From tomorrow Second Phase of Agricultural Training on alternative crop cultivation will be starting at Chargheri. The first phase of training program, initiated during our last visit (on 5th September), was successfully completed on 7th, covering over 25 farmers from our five villages: Chargheri, Parasmani, Santigachhi, Bidhan Collony and Lahiripur. The training started with a great enthusiasm almost 40 farmers were present on the first day including a number of women folks. Trainers are happy with the keen interest of the villagers and the trainees are satisfied after learning something new. The trainers from the NGO
SWANIRVAR, Mr Narayan Bachar and Mrs Anjana Mandal, will again be back to Chargheri Primary school tomorrow (on 11th September) to resume the second phase of training with a fresh batch of 25 farmers. This time the trainers will distribute some seeds to the trainees of last batch so that they can start experimenting in the field. The trainers have suggested for arranging lunch for the trainees to ensure uninterrupted day long training and PAKT has readily agreed to arrange for the same. The responsibility of food and lodging of the trainers during these three days will be taken care of by Purbasha, our local group of friends. We have requested the trainers to identify at least 10 trainees from the last batch who can impart further training to some more farmers in the villages. This way we will try to benefit maximum possible villagers from this agricultural training program.

As advised by SWANIRVAR, the farmers will have to start working with the new techniques in their fields by October 15th. That is essential to have a crop of suitable vegetables during the coming winter. The seeds can always be handed over to them before that deadline but the key part is making hundreds of farmer families aware of what needs to be done with those seeds under the prevailing conditions.

The only way to achieve this is to train 2 or 3 batches of farmers through external trainers and then getting the rest of the farmers trained by these trainees. In other words, trainees will need to become trainers within a span of days. This is easier said than done. The first thing they will need to do that is some initial work on their fields with the alternative methods.

To achieve this, we have tried to make sure that the trained farmers start on their fields within days of receiving training. This is the principal reason behind PAKT distributing seeds to first lot of trainees this early. Subsequently they can train others in their villages about the procedures learnt by them. This is the only way to attain the target that by early October, majority of the villagers will be ready to make productive use of the seeds that PAKT plans to support them with.