The Diploma in Agricultural Extension Services for Input Dealers (DAESI) is a one-year program designed to equip agri-input dealers with relevant knowledge and skills in agricultural extension services. This program aims to transform these dealers into para-extension professionals, enabling them to better assist farmers and contribute to improving agricultural extension systems.
The program is crucial in bridging the gap between scientific agricultural advancements and their practical application at the grassroots level, particularly for remote farming communities. DAESI-trained professionals play a vital role in enhancing farm productivity, promoting sustainable agriculture practices, and improving rural livelihoods.
The DAESI curriculum combines classroom learning with hands-on field experience, focusing on relevant and location-specific agricultural education. Key areas covered include:
The program emphasizes practical skills through field visits and interactions with experts.
To pursue the DAESI course, students generally need to have passed an intermediate exam with a minimum aggregate of marks. There is no specific age limit for the program. Admission is typically merit-based.
The DAESI program has been launched in multiple states across India. As of late 2024, it was being conducted in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Orissa, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Currently, a total of 9560 input dealers are undergoing the DAESI course in states including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. States like Kerala, Gujarat, Punjab, and Uttarakhand are also exploring conducting DAESI programs.
The program has been inaugurated at various locations, including the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Howrah, West Bengal, and North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Sonamukhi Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Sonamukhi, Bankura runs two batches of the program each year, with an intake capacity of 40 students per batch. Candidates are selected by the office of the Deputy Director of Agriculture, Bankura, Government of West Bengal.
The DAESI program has successfully trained a significant number of input dealers, with over 9800 dealers having completed the program since its inception. These trained professionals contribute significantly to agricultural extension services by providing farmers with timely and accurate scientific advice, helping them make informed decisions regarding their farming practices, and promoting the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies.
The program's success is highlighted by endorsements from various agricultural experts and institutions. For example, Dr. Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata, emphasized the DAESI scheme's role in transforming input dealers into para-extension professionals and strengthening the agricultural extension system. Similarly, Prof. B.K. Chand, Joint Director, Research, highlighted the importance of equipping dealers with the necessary knowledge to offer scientifically sound advisory services.
For more information, please visit the MANAGE website https://www.manage.gov.in/daesi/daesi.asp or contact relevant agricultural departments and institutions in your region.
