RAWE & KUS PROGRAMME
According to 5th Dean’s Committee report, there are 5 components from which two components, i.e., RAWE and ELP were taken up by the School of Agriculture. Rural Agricultural Work Experience (RAWE) enables the students to gain rural experience, gives them confidence and enhance on-farm problem solving abilities in real life situations, especially while in contact with farmers, growers, etc. The RAWE programme of 2018-19 batch students was started on 8.09.2020 and it continued up to 14th week from the above said date.
In the first week, orientation program was conducted where all the faculties along with Dean, Prof. S. K Panda, addressed the students regarding the RAWE programme and guided them how to communicate with farmers, solve their problems and how to carry out field operations of crops grown in that village.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic situation, students were attached to their respective blocks in order to conduct the RAWE activities. Students were instructed to follow COVID-19 guidelines strictly by maintaining social distance, maintain personal hygiene such as using mask, sanitizers, etc. while dealing with the farmers in the village.
RAWE coordinators intimated the Chief District Agriculture Officers, Assistant Agriculture Officers, Assistant Horticulture Officers, Block Agriculture Officers of respective blocks through mail for smooth conduct of activities and to guide the students in different activities. Students were divided into 10 groups, whereby each group was guided by faculty supervisor to whom they had to submit their daily work profile and weekly report based on PRA tools and different interventions. At the end of each week, students were being evaluated by power point presentations, attendance and sincerity in their work. On 14th week, they compiled all the reports in ppt and pdf format and submitted it to their respective coordinators.
Along with RAWE, students are also involved in KUS Programme under Government of Odisha. KUS (Krushi Unnata Sahajogi) programme through which students could learn from the department officials and farmers by understanding the prevailing conditions on the ground. Students not only learned different skills but also gained knowledge about various schemes. A Village Agricultural Worker from the respective block was associated with the student to carry out the necessary works throughout the program. Students were uploading the data collected through the app and their attendance was marked. Each faculty was assigned to a group of students in each block to carry out their daily activities and to monitor them. A total of 40 and 59 students, were selected to participate in KUS programme from 2017 and 2018 batch, respectively. Each year, best student associates were awarded and from 2017 batch, one student Ms. Soumya Sunherika Bhoi from School of Agriculture has received the best Student Associate Award from Bolangir District of Odisha.
