Workshop-cum-Master Trainer Training under Farmer FIRST Organised

18-20 February 2026, Mahanpur

A three-day Workshop-cum-Master Trainer Training (MTT) Programme under the Farmer FIRST Project was successfully organised by West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, in collaboration with ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata, at the Faculty of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Mohanpur, Nadia.

The programme was centred on the theme “Livelihood Empowerment through Scientific Animal Husbandry and Allied Intervention Modules” and aimed to strengthen the capacity of Master Trainers, field-level extension personnel, and stakeholders for promoting livestock-based entrepreneurship and integrated farming approaches for rural livelihood enhancements.

In his Presidential address, Dr. T.K. Datta, Vice-Chancellor, WBUAFS, stressed the need to enhance the incomes of marginal farmers through targeted input support coupled with scientific capacity building in animal husbandry and fisheries, enabling sustainable livelihood improvement and inclusive rural growth.

Dr Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata, emphasized that the Farmer FIRST Programme (FFP) functions as a dynamic bridge between scientists and farmers, fostering community-driven pathways that translate proven technologies into field realities while advancing integrated animal husbandry interventions, structured master-trainer capacity building, and convergence-based extension. He noted that this feedback-led, market-linked approach through FFP not only empowers women and rural youth as change agents but also strengthens resilient production systems, sustainable growth, and inclusive rural livelihoods.

The experts emphasized that such initiatives are vital for strengthening grassroots capacity and promoting sustainable and inclusive rural development. They noted that these programmes play a significant role in enhancing farmers’ knowledge, skills, and adoption of scientific practices.

The importance of quality veterinary education, field-oriented training, and farmer-centric livestock development was also highlighted. In addition, the role of scientific dairy management and technology-driven advisory support in improving productivity, resource-use efficiency, and livelihood security was underscored.

The programme brought together 30 participants from the three adopted villages Ayeshpur, Baksa and Dakshin Dattapara under Haringhata block of Nadia district, who were trained as Master Trainers. On the occasion, ten extension bulletins and one technical booklet were formally released for wider dissemination among stakeholders. LN₂ containers and artificial insemination kits for goats were also distributed to selected women AI workers from the three adopted Farmer FIRST Programme villages, thereby strengthening last-mile breeding services while promoting women-led livestock extension at the grassroots.

Training covered key scientific and enterprise themes innovative fisheries, multi-storied horticulture-based IFS, low-cost vermicompost and mushroom production, Artificial insemination for Bengal goat improvement, feed and fodder management, dairy value addition for women, and the economics of animal husbandry. Hands-on learning was reinforced through visits to the Mandouri Horticulture Demonstration Farm (BCKV) and the Faculty Dairy Plant for practical training in horticulture and dairy processing.

(Source: ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata)