REGIONAL AGRICULTRAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (RAEDC), VEHARI ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 Dr. GHULAM ABBAS MUSHTAQ ALI FAHAD IHSAN, SAEED AHMAD Seed Farm Road RAEDC Vehari E-mail:
[email protected] Web: https://raedc-agripunjab.punjab.gov.pk Ph: 067-3361690, 9201197, Fax: 067-3364428 1 INTRODUCTION Agriculture sector is an integral part of the economy of Pakistan. It is also a strategic priority of other developing countries for balancing export deficits and ensuring food security. To enhance and boost up agricultural production challenges of human resource development and technology transfer play a preeminent role in achievement of objective. Technology transfer mean a „system under which various inter-related components of technology namely “hardware” (materials such as a variety), “software” (technique, know-how, information), “human ware” (human ability), “orgaware” (organizational, management aspects) and the final product (including marketing) are rendered accessible to the end users‟. The pace of technology transfer can only be matched if the farming community is trained/ educated at the same speed. To institutionalize this activity, RAEDC was incepted in 1991. Regional Agricultural Economic Development Centre (RAEDC), Vehari has been organizing courses, which result in capacity building of the officers of the department as well which enhance the capabilities and skills of farmers, unemployed youth, women and labour class particularly related with agriculture. The process involves need assessment of the target populations, demand of the community, unfelt needs of new concepts and technologies. Teaching methods, course contents and training material is very carefully selected with reference to target audience. Teaching methods used in training courses generally involve lecture, field visit, hands-on training, group discussions, brain storming sessions and case studies etc.