1. To bridge the gap between the Central government agriculture extension activities, and the farmers. This involves training or updating the farmers and State government Agriculture Development Officers on the latest agriculture policies adopted at the National level,
2. Training the State Government officials so as to enable them to further share the knowledge to the farmers in their local language,
3. Interaction both with the state officials and the farmers enables the foundation to convey their concerns to the Central government.
Hence, the Sunrakshan Foundation is trying to bridge the gap between the National policy makers based in the Center, Government of India (GOI), the State Government and the farmers at the grass root level.
Sunrakshan Foundation is presently actively involved in creating awareness amongst the State Government Officials of the Agriculture department and the farmers in the judicious and safe use of pesticides to avoid pesticide abuse. The State of Punjab and Haryana had been adopted principally as a representative state in Northern India.
The very fact of excessive use and misuse of pesticides is of grave concern in the State of Punjab as
1. it is the known as the life line of Indian agriculture and
2. is the most innovative of all states in India, is enough to qualify as first choice. The State of Haryana is taken as a case study to blend the crop farming culture of two district states which were once one.
Sunrakshan Foundation pilot project [PPPSIEP] of the Punjab Chapter is presently being done in collaboration with the following Knowledge Partners:
National
a. Central Integrated Pest Management Centre (CIPMC), Jalandhar, State of Punjab, Government of India,
b. State Agriculture Department, State of Punjab, Government of Punjab, India, and
c. Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Ludhiana (State Agriculture University [SAU]), State of Punjab, India and associated Krishi Vigyan Kendra/s.
d. Indian Agriculture Research Institute, New Delhi
e. Uttar Pradesh Zoological Society, Muzaffarnagar, State of Uttar Pradesh, India
f. M/s. PestRegInformatics.Com, India
g. M/s. Pesticide Regulatory Affairs – India
International
a. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Toxicology (SETAC) [North America / Europe, and Asia Pacific Chapter]
b. Kamtech Technologies (UK)
c. Rothamsted University, Harpenden, (UK)
The above association helps the foundation in giving a comprehensive platform to provide a comprehensive non formal training in pest management as a vital component of total crop management. The concept is to:
i. Update and discuss the various recommendations issued by the Central and State governments on crop cultivation during the kharif and Rabi cropping season’s (depending on the crop/s in consideration during the period involved),
ii. To brief the participants on various agriculture practices required to be adopted,
iii. Identification of likely pest infestation (crop problem involving plant disease / pest attack) and plant protection measures associated with the principals of Integrated Pest Management (along with identification of beneficial insects)
iv. Promotion of Safe and Judicious application of Plant Protection Products, i.e., chemical and biological / herbal, to avoid pesticide poisoning and intentional abuse (a major problem in the State of Punjab)
v. Promotion of associated health and environment issues with respect to women and children
The trainings are held at the State Agriculture offices, and the villages and the farmer/s fields to generate meaningful interest among the intended participants participating in the programme.