Kisaan Chaupal

 

Since times immemorial, our villages were having unique and rich tradition as well as self-sufficiency in terms of basic needs of villagers and problems solving. Kisan choupal was also a tradition like others. Every evening, farmers assembled under the shade of tree in summer and around the bone fire during the winter season to share their activities/events/problems and find out the solution to their problems. Presently, whole scenario of villages is changing; such type of valuable tradition is going to disappear because our society is adopting western culture very rapidly. Therefore, there is a need to revive such valuable tradition in this modern era. Keeping the importance of this tradition, Bihar Agricultural University started “Kisan Choupal on 28 April 2012 in 20 KVKs and colleges of the varsity to be organized every Saturday with the theme “Bihar Krishi Vishwa Vidyalay Kisano Ke Dwar-Kisan Choupal”. Kisan choupal completed a year on April 27, 2013 and has proved to be a boon for many farmers in 21 districts across the state. BAU had started the scheme “Kisan Choupal” which is conducted in the identified village which is helping farmers to solve their problems related to cropping practise and agriculture, apart from disseminating scientific know-how of the varsity.

Unique feature of Kisaan Chaupal

The venue is selected by a team of scientists who visits the village a day before the date of the chaupal to ensure active mobilization/participation of villagers. The villagers are motivated to get their problems regarding farming resolved at their doorsteps. The motivational activities are planned to ensure maximum participation. Also, the linkage with state agriculture department, line department and PRIs is created to bring better connect to the villagers. It is not only a platform for the farmers but also an active way in which the students get real-life field exposure. The dialogue/discussion/problems solving is further facilitated with the display of technical videos/movies on the go. In addition to these, the distribution of farmer-friendly publication of the university during the choupal is enhanced to increase awareness on cropping practices and new techniques for the literate farmers. The documentation of farmers’ feedback is put to practice together with regular reports to the varsity which is utilized as an input for future research in this direction.