I am Das Joseph Koottappillil again, from Kerala, India. From my experience, I'd like to inform one fact. Lack of effective rural advisory service and supply of adequate input factors such as agriculture machinery, manure, etc. leads to loss of interest in agriculture. The farmers are seeking other jobs. At the same time, agricultural farm lands are converted into commercial plots and other plantations. Ultimately in recent future poverty will affect in worst condition. Responding to Questions 4.6 and 4.7 in the conference background document: 4.6 What strategies are needed at the national/state level to enhance rural advisory services for family farms? To avoid the above worst situation, several strategies are to be formed. A) At the regional level: * Efficient agricultural demonstration plots using high yielding seeds should be maintained and run by government level to attract existing/potential farmers. * At the time of training, certain awards shall be distributed to best farmers who achieve best results in food production based on evidence. *Offer agriculture inputs such as machinery, manure, subsidies to those who attend training programmes. *Conduct group farming techniques and share common agriculture equipment. *Encourage high school students to conduct and participate in agriculture in school compound. This will increase the interest of children in agriculture. B) At state level: * Manage and monitor regional level organizations * Funds and financial aids shall be distributed on needy basis for different crops. * Projects on waste management techniques and construction of biogas plants will lessen the waste, effort of women in house. It also increase the fertility of soil and ultimately can conserve our non-renewable fuels. C) National level * National level organizations can formulate policies to attract farmers and to effective means of advice to farmers through national level telecasting. * Extra bonus and promotions should be given to best state level agricultural organizations * Also demotion should be given to government official who did not achieve a basic level agriculture output, by giving prior warning (considering natural calamities) * National level law making body should be formed to regulate and execute the rules to improve agriculture production through advisory service and agriculture inputs factors. Functions of this body should be based on democratic system. * FAO should make a strict supervision over these national level organizations, agriculture land misuse and corruption in agriculture related activities. 4.7 How can family farmers be best involved in formulating policies relevant to rural advisory services for family farms? It is not good for any agricultural organization alone to take any decision. Participation of farmers is also a very important factor. * In Kerala, India here we conduct GRAMA SABHA (Village/panchayath meeting) of farmers once in three months. In this meeting, agriculture officers, Panchayath President, veterinary doctors etc. will participate along with farmers. * In this meeting, decisions are taken for the next agriculture season, fund utilization, clearing doubts of farmers etc. * Notices on these GRAMA SABHA will be published nearby shops, public noticeboards and inform to the group farming leaders. * Older farmers have their own hereditary knowledge on some farming methods, organic pesticides, herbal(ayurvedic) treatment etc. Scientific studies of this knowledge may leads to agriculture extension. Das Joseph Koottappillilil, Chathamattom, Pothanicad, Ernakulam, Kerala, India. Mobile No 91-9495471735, 91-9048784795 e-mail: dasjkpl (at) gmail.com [To contribute to this conference, send your message to [log in to unmask] The last day for sending messages to the conference is 18 December. The searchable message archive is at https://listserv.fao.org/cgi-bin/wa?A0=RAS-L ] ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the RAS-L list, click the following link: https://listserv.fao.org/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=RAS-L&A=1