Farm Advisory Service Centres (FASCs): Your Partners in Progress

Founded in 1962, the Farm Advisory Service Centres (FASCs) serve as vital hubs for direct technology transfer, offering farmers timely and practical solutions to their farming challenges. These centres also play a crucial role in gathering firsthand feedback on field issues and relaying it to PAU research scientists, thereby closing the feedback loop and driving continuous improvement in agricultural practices. Operating across 15 districts in Punjab, FASCs bridge the gap between academic research and practical farming, fostering innovation and boosting productivity in the farming community. Below is a rundown of the key services FASCs provide to farmers.

1. Adaptive Research Trials (ARTs): To provide farmers with practical, field-tested solutions, FASCs conduct trials on new crop varieties, production techniques, and crop protection technologies under Punjab’s diverse agro-climatic conditions. Promising technologies are recommended for use, ensuring farmers receive effective, tailored innovations.
2. Training cum Awareness Camps: From village to district level, FASCs organise training programmes for farmers in collaboration with State Development Departments. FASC experts, as key resource persons, guide farmers in acquiring essential knowledge and developing practical skills to improve their agricultural practices.
3. Frontline Demonstrations (FLDs): Building farmers’ confidence in recommended technologies is vital for wider adoption. Through frontline demonstrations, conducted in select farmers’ fields, FASC experts showcase the soundness and reliability of these technologies, allowing farmers to witness their benefits firsthand and, adopt them confidently.
4. Field Days: Field days are strategically organised at sites where frontline demonstrations of new technologies have been conducted. These events serve as concluding showcases, engaging large groups of farmers to observe the tangible outcomes and benefits of these technologies. By following the principle of “seeing is believing,” FASC experts inspire farmers to adopt these innovations, driving growth and modernisation in farming.
5. On-the-Spot Guidance: Complex field challenges can risk farmers’ crops. FASC specialists regularly visit farmers’ fields to address pressing issues such as pest outbreaks, weed infestations, nutrient deficiencies, and other crop disorders. These timely interventions ensure early detection and immediate solutions, preventing any emerging issue from going unresolved.
6. Surveillance and Campaigns: Through regular surveys during the kharif and rabi seasons, extension scientists monitor cropping patterns, input usage, and production-related challenges. This information helps identify emerging issues. FASCs also organise impactful campaigns on water conservation, soil health, weed and pest management, crop residue management, and other sustainable practices. Initiatives like “Reach the Unreached” and “Technology Saturation Villages” further expand the impact of these efforts.
7. Feedback: FASC specialists act as eyes and ears of PAU, providing real-time insights into farmers’ practices and field challenges. This feedback is relayed to scientists, ensuring PAU’s research addresses practical agricultural problems and remains aligned with farmers’ needs.