Directorate of Extension established by Government of India in 1958 is presently situated in two campus, Krishi Vistar Bhawan, IASRI Campus, Pusa, New Delhi and Krishi Vistar Sadan, CTO, IARI Campus, Pusa, New Delhi. The main role of DOE is promote agricultural development through professional extension services as also to strengthen/enhance professionalism in extension. DOE is an apex nodal agency at national level to strengthen agricultural extension services and networking of farming information as well as to ensure awareness creation among the extension functionaries and farmers about various schemes and programmes of Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare through States/UTs & various implementing agencies. Being the nodal agency at the National level, it provides guidelines, mainstream coordination among various organizations / institutions involved in extension work and supervise and promoting extension programmes/schemes. Major policy guidelines on extension matters are laid down by the Extension Division and specific programs and activities are implemented national level through Directorate of Extension through its four units namely, Extension Management, Extension Training, Farm Information and Administration Unit.
i). EXTENSION MANAGEMENT UNIT:
(i) Coordination of extension activities at the national level particularly with reference to Extension Management aspects.
(ii) Strengthening of extension services in the States.
(iii) Organizing National level Interface between Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare & ICAR.
(iv) Providing inputs for National Kharif /Rabi Conferences.
(v) Developing Research-Extension linkages at various levels for effective transfer of technology.
(vi) Implementation of the Central Sector Scheme – Establishment of Agri-Clinic and Agri-Business Centres.
(vii) Implementation of the Central Sector Scheme – Kisan Call Centres (KCCs) &
Monitoring of Kisan Call Centres at 14 locations in the different parts of the country covering all the States and UTs.
(viii) Kisan Knowledge Management System (KKMS) (web site http://dackkms.gov.in) developed to capture all the details of callers to KCCs, generation of MIS Report etc.
ii). EXTENSION TRAINING UNIT (ET):
(i) HRD & Capacity Building of extension functionaries working under agriculture &
allied departments across the country.
(ii) Coordination of training activities at the National/State level with different Divisions and Departments.
(iii) Technical, administrative and financial matters of four Extension Education Institutes (EEIs) established by Government of India on regional basis at Nilokheri (Haryana); Hyderabad (Telangana); Anand (Gujarat) and Jorhat (Assam) to cater to the training needs of middle-level field extension functionaries working under agriculture and allied departments of States/UTs of respective regions.
(iv) Training collaboration with ICAR, SAUs and other National Institutes for organization of short duration specialized training courses for middle level extension functionaries working in agriculture & allied departments of States/UTs.
(v) Implementation of Skill Development activities under:
(a) Diploma in Agricultural Extension Services for input Dealers (DAESI);
(b) Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY);
(c) Farmers Capacity Assessment & Certification (FCAC).
(vi) Organizing workshops /seminars /conferences / review meetings/
brainstorming session.
(vii) Grievance Petition, RTI/ VIP/PMO references/ Parliament Questions.
iii). FARM INFORMATION UNIT:
(i) Coordination & Execution of Publicity & Awareness activities of DAC&FW.
(ii) Organizing Media Support workshops, liaison with State Farm Information Units/State Agricultural Universities and other organizations.
iv). EXTENSION REFORMS CELL:
(i) Planning, coordination and management of ‘Sub Mission on Agriculture Extension (SAME)’ – Extension Reforms (ATMA) Scheme for implementation in States/ UTs.
(ii) Examination of State Extension Work Plan (SEWPs) & allocation/release of funds to States/UTs for implementation of activities under ‘Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms (ATMA)’ component of Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)”.
(iii) Technical, administrative and financial matters of MANAGE, Hyderabad, an autonomous body under Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare.
(iv) Examination of Agricultural Extension Projects under section 35CCC of Income Tax Acts 1961.
(v) Parliament Questions, Admissibility and Assurances, Grievance Petitions/ VIP &
PMO reference/RTI matters/ Court Cases etc.
(vi) Operationalization of online reporting system i.e. ERMS Portal.
(vii) Maintenance and updation of financial data related to Allocation, Release and Expenditure and manpower deployment under ATMA and MANAGE.
v). MASS MEDIA CELL:
(i) Telecast of a 30 minute programme/ Krishi Darshan for 6 days a week through National, 18 Regional Kendras and 180 High Power / Low Power Transmitters of Doordarshan.
(ii) Broadcast of a 30 minutes programme/ Kisan Vani for 6 days a week through 96 Rural FM Radio Stations of All India Radio.
(iii) Production of Audio-Video spots/films for broadcast/telecast through DD, AIR and Private TV Radio Channels operating at National & Regional Level during news, entertainment programmes, serials etc.
(iv) Support for Establishment of Community Radio Stations (CRS) under Extension Reforms (ATMA) programme.
(v) Focused Publicity & Awareness Campaign: to create awareness of various schemes of the DAC&FW through Private TV Channels, Private FM Channels, Outdoor Publicity and Private Advertisements through newspapers across the country.
vi). EXHIBITION / PRINTING/ PUBLICATION WING:
(i) Production and distribution of bi-monthly magazines namely, Intensive Agriculture and Agriculture Extension Review in English, Unnat Krishi and Krishi Vistar Samiksha in Hindi and other ad-hoc publications.
(ii) Organization and participation in National/International Fair / Exhibition / Agriculture Expo in coordination with ICAR, DAHD&F, ITPO & other Departments.
(iii) Production, procurement and distribution of Agricultural Films on identified thrust areas.
(iv) Media coordination specially with Doordarshan and All India Radio.
(v) Organizing All India Fruit/Vegetable shows.
(vi) Organizing Media Support workshops, liaison with State Farm Information Units/State Agricultural Universities and other organizations.
(vii) Maintenance of photo Archives.
vii)
NATIONAL GENDER RESOURCE CENTRE IN AGRICULTURE (NGRCA)
:(i) National Gender Resource Centre in Agriculture (NGRCA), set up in Directorate of Extension, is a focal point to converge all gender related activities & issues in agriculture & allied sectors, within and outside the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare; add gender dimension to agriculture policies &
programmes; render advocacy/advisory services to the States/UTs; undertaking and supporting training, research and advocacy to mainstream gender issues in agriculture and natural resource management, so as to internalize gender specific interventions and ensure that the policies and programmes in agriculture are fully engendered & reflect the National commitment to empowerment of women.
Gender Budgeting Cell (GBT): Gender Budgeting Cell (GBT) of DAC&FW has been constituted in the NGRCA for looking into the budgetary commitments of various schemes of DAC&FW; bringing gender concerns on to the centre stage in all aspects of public expenditure and policy and ensuring a proportionate flow of the public expenditure benefiting women farmers.