Prof. Dr. Mohammad Zamshed Alam
Director, Outreach Program
The Outreach Department at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) serves as a bridge between the university and the wider community. Its goal is to apply academic knowledge and research outcomes to real-world agricultural practices, particularly among rural and farming populations in Bangladesh.
Key Functions and Responsibilities:
- Extension Services
- Provides technical assistance and agricultural knowledge to farmers and rural communities.
- Demonstrates modern, sustainable farming techniques through field trials and demonstrations.
- Training & Capacity Building
- Organizes training workshops, short courses, and hands-on programs for farmers, extension workers, and NGOs.
- Helps local communities adopt improved agricultural practices for better productivity and income.
- Technology Transfer
- Facilitates the transfer of research-based innovations (e.g., crop varieties, pest control methods, irrigation systems) to practical farming settings.
- Collaboration with Stakeholders
- Partners with government agencies (e.g., Department of Agricultural Extension), NGOs, and international bodies to promote rural development.
- Engages with farmer cooperatives, community leaders, and agricultural entrepreneurs.
- Awareness and Dissemination
- Publishes newsletters, pamphlets, and guides on agricultural best practices.
- Uses media platforms, including community radio and mobile apps, to reach remote populations.
- Field-Based Research Support
- Assists researchers in conducting on-farm research and collecting real-time field data.
- Promotes farmer-participatory research models.
- Youth and Women Empowerment Programs
- Encourages youth involvement in agriculture through entrepreneurship training.
- Offers special programs aimed at empowering rural women with skills and resources.
Strategic Importance:
- Enhances SAU's societal impact by ensuring that academic outputs lead to practical, measurable improvements in agriculture.
- Contributes to national food security goals by increasing the productivity and efficiency of farmers.
- Strengthens university-community engagement, aligning academic research with real-world challenges.
