1. PPPs to strengthen Input
Availability and
Knowledge Networks for
Agronomy Basics
Through Dealer Training
Kathmandu – Jan 24, 2013

2. What is Public Private Partnership?
• Collaboration between public & private
sector entities
• Joint planning and execution
• Accomplish certain common objectives
• Sharing the costs, risks and benefits

3. Public Private Partnerships in
Agriculture : Background
• National Agriculture Policy and the
approach paper for 10th Plan
emphasized the need for reforms in
agriculture extension
• Ministry of Agriculture emphasized the
use of Multi Agency Extension Services
such as multi national companies,
corporate bodies, NGOs, farmers
associations, input dealers etc.

4. Public Private Partnerships in
Agriculture : Scope
• Research & Development
• Inputs
• Extension
• Education & Training
• Infrastructure Development
• Agribusiness Management
• Credit

5. Significant role of private sector
• Markets on the rise
• Public sector retrenching
• Q: Can the private sector reach small
farmers?
• A: Millions of farmers are reached
commercially every day. More could be
reached through -
EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS

6. Crucial role of agriculture input
dealers : Market Led Extension
• Large network: about 282,000 (source: MANAGE)
• Nearly 90% of them do not have any formal
education in agriculture
• Can spearhead our social marketing efforts
for…
- Technology dissemination
- Resource of recommendations &
- As a focal point or broker for service providers
CSISA Input Dealers Farmers

7. Access to Information
India: 90m small farms < 2 ha
About 40% of these farmers are
accessing information. Of these, most
get it from INPUT DEALERS – directly or
via progressive farmers!
How to consolidate this advance and
reach the remaining 60%?
(Source: NSSO, 2005/7)

8. Access to Information
(Source: NSSO, 2005/7)

9. Input Suppliers as a source of
extension
Input suppliers:
• The crop science industry, agro-dealers
• Rural businesses like…..
-Hariyali Kisaan Bazaar;
-Godrej Agrovet Ltd;
-E-Choupal etc.

10. Input Suppliers as a source of
extension
Input suppliers understand that they
sell not products, but effects.
This necessarily requires knowledge
transfer to go along with the sale of
products.

11. Networks as source of extension
Extension advanced through networks
involving:
• Distributors
• Retailers
• NGOs, technical personnel
• Lead farmers
• Farmer organizations
• Women’s groups
• Advertisement (Radio, TV, Internet etc)

12. Dealer Training in Bihar & EUP
146 (38 in EUP & 108 in Bihar) Dealers of
NFL were trained on basic agronomy
aspects like….
• Technologies to improve productivity
• Water Management
• Nutrient Management
• Weed Management
in cereal based cropping systems

13. PPPs in Education and Training :
Scope
Public Sector:
National Institute of Agriculture Extension
Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad
One Year Diploma in formal agriculture
education, exclusively for input dealers
National Fertilizers Limited (NFL), United
Phosphorous Limited, etc
Private Sector:
Syngenta, Bayer, Monsanto etc

14. Training to Input Dealers
(open for discussion)
Objectives:
•Orientation on location specific agriculture
technologies and specific package of practices
•Building capacity in efficient handling of inputs
•Providing knowledge on the laws governing
agriculture inputs
•Transforming them as information resource
base at the local level for the farming
community

15. Training to Input Dealers
(open for discussion)
•A certified course, on the lines of CCA?
•Target Audience: Can it be extended to
others, with a slight modification of
contents?h
•Duration?
•Contents?
•Scope of PPP: Training delivery &
preparation of study material
•Delivery of instructions: Classroom?
Distance mode? Field visits?