Bandipora, | Sept: 24:Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Bandipora-1, SKUAST-Kashmir, hosted students of the Faculty of Agriculture (FoA), Wadura, under the Rural Agricultural Work Experience (RAWE) Programme 2026, providing them with classroom learning, field exposure, practical demonstrations and opportunities for interaction with farming communities.
The B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture Batch 2023 students have been deputed to KVK Bandipora-1 from September 21 to October 18, 2026, to undertake prescribed RAWE activities and gain practical exposure to agricultural extension, field-level technologies and farmer-oriented activities.
Dr Tariq Sultan, Head, KVK Bandipora-1, briefed the students on the objectives of the RAWE programme and the role of KVKs in agricultural technology dissemination, farmer capacity building and extension. He encouraged them to participate actively in the programme and gain practical knowledge through field demonstrations and interaction with farming communities.
The programme included technical presentations, interactive sessions and practical demonstrations. The students were introduced to key activities of KVK Bandipora-1, including Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs), On-Farm Trials (OFTs), method demonstrations, result demonstrations, training programmes and farmer-oriented extension activities.
As part of the field exposure, the students visited the Lotus, Makhana and Water Chestnut Demonstration Plots, besides other ongoing demonstrations at the KVK. They were briefed on crop establishment and management practices, crop diversification, horticulture, protected cultivation and aquatic agriculture. The field visits provided an opportunity to relate classroom concepts to agricultural practices under local conditions.
Dr Bilal Ahmad Zargar, SMS (Agricultural Extension), KVK Bandipora-1, oriented the students on agricultural extension approaches, farmer interaction and technology dissemination, while Shabnum Mumtaz, SMS (Plant Protection), provided guidance on pest surveillance, plant protection and integrated crop protection practices.
The scientific staff of KVK Bandipora-1 facilitated the classroom and field sessions and interacted with the students on various aspects of agricultural technologies and their application under field conditions. The students were also encouraged to understand farmers’ practices, constraints and opportunities through direct interaction with farming communities.
During the remaining period of the programme, the students will participate in various KVK activities, visit adopted villages, interact with farmers and gain first-hand experience of agricultural technologies and extension approaches. They will also maintain records and document their field experiences as prescribed under the RAWE programme.
