The Graduation Day of Diploma in Agricultural Extension Services for Input Dealers (DAESI) was conducted at ICAR Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gonikoppal, Kodagu on 21st January 2020. Dr. C.G.Kushalappa,Dean, Forestry college, Ponnampet was the Chief Guest during the function and distributed the Diploma certificates. The final Diploma certificates were issued from the National Institute for Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad. Dr. Pennabaliswamy, State Nodal officer, DAESI-SAMETI, UAS, Bengaluru and Dr.Raju K, Joint Director of Agriculture, Dept. of Agriculture, Kodagu were the Guest of Honor present during the function. At the start of the programme, Mr.Veerendra Kumar K.V,Subject Matter Specialist (Plant Protection) welcomed all the delegates and participants to the function. Dr. Saju George, Principal Scientist & Head,ICAR-KVK,Kodagu in his introductory remarks opined that, this type of programme bridges the gap between farmers and scientists by bringing more extension agents in to the Governments fold. These input dealers can now act as krishi information centres than merely functioning as agriculture input shops in the rural areas. Dr. Pennaboliswamy, State Nodal Officer, SAMETI, Bengaluru congratulated all the candidates and mentioned that, the responsibility of DAESI trained candidates has increased with this graduation and they should function as positive change agents in the system Dr.Raju K, Joint Director of Agriculture, Dept. of Agriculture, Kodagu, congratulated all the candidates and briefed on the thrust areas of the Government and how the DAESI candidates can handhold some of the programmes of the Government to the farmers because of their local reach.

Dr. C.G.Kushalappa,Dean, Forestry college, Ponnampet congratulated all the candidates on successfully completing the programme. In his Chief Guest address emphasised on the importance of technology and the transformation it can bring about in income level of farmers. He told that the DAESI candidates can take a step ahead and become entrepreneurs by implementing new technologies in to his farm and make agriculture is a benefiting farming. Following candidates were facilitated for their performance: Mr.Nanada Kumar M.R.Astra Processor,Somwarpet,(1st Rank), Mr. Somanna P.A,Kushalnagar (2nd Rank) and Smt. Sandhya V, Coorg Agro Centre, Kundanahally (3rd Rank). The one year Diploma Course programme was coordinated by Mr.Veerendra Kumar K.V,Subject Matter Specialist (Plant Protection) as Coordinator and Mr. Chengappa as Facilitator.The complete programme was compared by Mr. Prabhakar, SMS (Horticulture).