Kohima, 28 May: The RAWE (Rural Agriculture work Experience) is a programme for the final year B.Sc.(Agri) students. This programme is aimed at providing an opportunity to the Agricultural graduating students to develop self confidence in farming and for better understanding of the practical problems faced in the field by farmers as well as the socio-economic aspect of the village life more closely.
The programme is conducted with the co-ordination of the Department of Agriculture Government of Nagaland and organised by the Nagaland University, School of Agriculture Science and Rural Development, Meziphema, Nagaland. Demonstration was conducted from 22nd to 24th May 2008. This year the programme was conducted in six villages in Jalukie area – Gaili, Kiyevi, Mhainamtsi, New Jalukie, Jalukie ‘B’ and Samziuram. The students stayed in these villages from March to May 2008.
Under this programme students are posted/placed in selected villages in batches of ten and made to stay in the village for three months. Each student is assigned one host farmer each and are made to work closely in their fields. The programme is designed with the objective to let the students acquire desired competency in the frontier areas of technology, managerial skills, agri-business as well as to handle real life situations ahead in their career.
In order to build up the confidence of the students, demonstration on various agricultural technologies were conducted by the students in their respective villages. Different topics were selected on the basis of the need and importance of the technology in that village. The students were given full guidance on methodologies involved in the demonstration by the subject experts and the programme supervisor.
The following persons were involved in the implementation of the program. Eighteen difference demonstrations were conducted in each village in a day. The farmers were very enthusiastic and participated actively in the whole programme. The Agricultural Officers from the Department of Agriculture, Nagaland, subject expert from Nagaland University, School of Agricultural Science & Rural Development, Medziphema facilitated the programme. The resource persons included Chairman, Central Advisory Committee (CAC), Prof. Imnayongdang, Dean, NU, SASRD; RAWE co-coordinator Dr. N. Tiameren Ao, SE (Plant Pathology); Chairman (GAC) group advisory committee B. Nyenghong Phom, SDAO, Jalukie; Program Supervisor Sunep Pongener, AO, Jalukie; besides subject experts Dr. (Prof.) M. Alemla Ao, Dr. J. Longkumer, Dr. V. Sharan, Dr. Nizamuddin, Dr. C. S Maiti, Dr. T Gohain, Dr. P. K Singh, Dr. Nayak and Sanjay Das.
The RAWE program was conducted at Samziuram Village on 24th May 2008 where Dr. N. Tiameren, AO RAWE co-coordinator was the chairman of the closing program. Speeches were given by B Nyenghong Phom, SDAO Jalukie, students representative and Samziuram Village Council Chairman.