Knowledge propagation by faculties of dairy technology under MAFSU, Nagpur

Introduction

Warud (Pusad) in Yavatmal district and Udgir in Latur district are the two constitutional Colleges of Dairy Technology (CDT) that are part of the Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University (MAFSU), Nagpur. This university is a state-level institution of higher education in Maharashtra. A Bachelor of Technology in Dairy Technology degree program is offered by the faculty of Dairy Technology. This program is designed to be completed in four years and is based on the pattern established by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). In addition to seats that are provided by ICAR, each college has the capacity to admit up to 36 students. In accordance with the criteria established by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in New Delhi, the curriculum of the eight-semester course incorporates both hands-on and industrial training in multi-product dairy factories located all across the country. The difference between research and productivity is that research involves the attentive, perceptive, and rigorous study or inquiry of phenomena in order to identify and uncover new knowledge, information, and facts, whereas productivity entails production or output within a definite amount of time. The presentation of research papers in conference proceedings, which are essential references to and acknowledgments of other scientists' widely accessible papers and books, and the publication of research papers in professional journals as journal articles, book chapters, or books are the two methods that Kpolovie and Dorgu (2019) [3] believe are the most effective ways to measure the level of research productivity in higher education. In their study, Sunday investigated the ways in which institutional factors influenced the research output of Nigerian academic staff. In 2022, Nguyen et al., investigated the level of productivity exhibited by 398 professors and researchers connected with VNU. Evaluation of the faculty research output of SPP University, Pune-affiliated Arts and Commerce College, Taharabad was carried out by Fulari (2021) [1] through the use of surveys, interviews, and observations with the faculty. An informational paradigm was utilized by Pal and Sarkar (2020) [6] in order to conduct a literature assessment on research productivity in scientific institutions such as departments and universities. The authors came to the conclusion that publicizing research findings has the potential to facilitate the exchange of ideas and the acquisition of precise critical feedback, both of which are essential to the socialization of science. Questionnaires, interviews, observations, and curriculum vitae were the methods that Sawai and Chavhan (2019) [8] utilized in order to investigate the research output of LIS professionals from 2004 to 2013. Teaching, research, and extension activities are all activities that the academic staff of these Dairy Technology colleges participates in so that they can fulfilll the objective of MAFSU Nagpur. It is necessary for scientists and academic professionals to impart cutting-edge technology to rural communities in order to improve the standard of living of the people living in rural areas. The manner in which this is accomplished is by conducting study on the practical problems that farmers face in order to find answers. Furthermore, the dissemination of the results or knowledge collected from research outputs for the benefit of stakeholders, farmers, and rural communities is an essential component of any research project. This can be accomplished through a variety of events, including seminars, field days, farmer-scientist meetings, media campaigns, and other gatherings. The Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University in Nagpur plays a significant role in the dissemination of information regarding research findings to many stakeholders, including farmers and proprietors of small businesses. Following an exhaustive examination of the existing literature, it was discovered that, ever since the establishment of these institutions, there has been no investigation into the propogation of information by the colleges of Dairy Technology and therefore, the present study has been designed.

Methodology

The data pertaining to the dissemination of information to the final users through extension activities of both colleges of Dairy Technology were acquired from the annual reports of Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur for the period of 2010-11 to 2023-24. The time span covered by these reports was from 2010-11 to 2023-24.

Results and Discussion Propagation of knowledge by organizing conferences/ seminars / workshops

The faculty of dairy technology has arranged a total of 79 conferences, seminars, and workshops to disseminate knowledge, technology, and methods developed for their application, according to statistics on research and knowledge propagation (Table 1). CDT Udgir executed 43 (54.43%) of these 79 programs, whereas CDT Warud (Pusad) conducted 36 (45.57%). CDT Udgir conducted 20 projects during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021, whereas CDT Warud only finished four. This indicates that CDT Udgir employees were productive during the lockout by using their time to conduct online courses and workshops. However, CDT Warud also held ten seminars and workshops in 2021-2022, demonstrating their productivity despite the COVID-19 pandemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the faculty of dairy technology personnel conducted 38 programs, or 48.11% of all programs. This shows how effective the crew was in this peculiar circumstance.

Propagation of knowledge by delivering scientific talk on radio and television

According to the information presented in table 2, the faculty of dairy technology at MAFSU, Nagpur has given a total of 41 talks on radio and television in order to disseminate the technical knowledge for the benefit of the general public. In comparison to the nine talks that were given by the staff of CDT Udgir, the staff of CDT Warud (Pusad) has delivered 32 talks on radio and television, which is a large amount. This is in comparison to the fact that the staff of CDT Udgir has only delivered nine talks. The staff of CDT Warud (Pusad) has made effective use of the COVID-19 epidemic (2020-21 to 2022-23) and has delivered 15 talks on radio and television. Two of these talks were delivered in the year 2020-21, six of them were provided in the year 2021-22, and seven of them were delivered in the year 2022-23.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgementThe authors express gratitude to the officials of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Research and Training Institute (MAHAJYOTI), Government of Maharashtra, for offering financial support to the primary author under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Research Fellowship (MJPRF-JRF).The authors express their gratitude to the officials of Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University Nagpur for granting permission and supplying essential information for the research.

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