NEWS AND EVENTS

EXTENSION DIVISION

Introduction:

Extension is an important post-research activity. Research without extension to the end-users is meaningless and not justified. The Extension Division of the Forest Research Institute (FRI) serves as and interfaces between the institute and end-users/stakeholders to strengthen the outcome of research carried out by FRI Scientists and other researchers on the different aspects of forestry.

History:

Earlier the Tropical pine research Centre was established with headquarters at Forest Research Institute, Dehradun in 1976 followed by four regional centers in Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. The Centre was closed on October 31, 1988 and transformed as Social Forestry Division on November 1, 1988. It was involved in screening of promising clones of poplar and also evaluated Paulownia as an agro forestry species. It also implemented UNDP project during 1993-2000. Under this project five villages each in U.P. and Haryana were selected for socio-economic upliftment and poverty alleviation through training.

A project on productivity enhancement: management for people’s participation was implemented from 1994-1999. Under this project, socioeconomic surveys were conducted and site-specific agro forestry models were developed for bamboo. During 1996-2002, the effect of leaf litter of poplars and Eucalyptus on agriculture crops was studied. In 1997, the Social Forestry Division was again transformed into the Extension Division in view of necessity to disseminate the research results/technologies developed by FRI as well as researches in agroforestry and participatory forest management to different stakeholders such as Forest Departments, farmers, industrialists, entrepreneurs, NGOs etc. It also disseminated result finding through printed information viz. brochures, folders and Newsletters on various species. The division has been undertaking/coordinating short term training courses as well as customized courses to different stakeholders since 1988 as a part of extension activity.

Achievements:

• Extension Division, FRI had organized/coordinated more than 70 trainings programmes for farmers, nursery growers, researchers, students, and various stake holders from 2008 to till date on various aspect of forestry. More than 2500persons have been trained on various aspects of forestry.
• On an average four exhibitions per year had also been organized at various places to create  awareness and show case our achievements to the public.
• Forest Research Institute, Dehradun had established six Van Vigyan Kendras (VVKs)  and two Demo villages to assist/help and access the user groups to technical know-how of appropriate technologies in States and UTs of its jurisdiction
• In addition of above 16 Radio talks and 10 Television talks have been recorded and aired/broadcasted through mass media (All India Radio and Doordarshan) in 2016-17.
• Two projects have been completed and two new projects on Agroforestry have been initiated in last financial year.