"The time has come to use the existing network of 2.82 lakh Input Dealers to serve the 110 million farmers of the country with improved business ethics coupled with service and profit motive - hence this initiative". Shri. Sanjeev Gupta, IAS, Director General, MANAGE

"Developing Input Dealers into well informed entrepreneurs in the service of the farmers is the motto of this course."  Dr. P. Chandrashekara, Director, MANAGE

The Post WTO regime has brought the importance of “Market Led Extension” which calls for diversification of crops, improvement in productivity and  quality while reducing cost of cultivation so as to be competitive both in the domestic as well as in international markets.  There is a need of planning cropping pattern, one season ahead so as to plan produce and  distribute inputs on time.  This also ensures healthy relation between the requirement & arrivals of various commodities in the market which helps in stabilization of their prices.    There is a large network of about 2.82 lakh Agri-Input Dealers in the country who are the prime source of farm information to the farming community besides the supply of inputs & credit.  These dealers are basically businessmen knowing about different market forces but not about Agricultural Education  and “Laws” related to  handling of Agricultural inputs.  If these dealers are transformed  as para-professionals, they can bring “Market Led Extension” a reality which may go a long way in development of  Agriculture in the country. Keeping this in view, MANAGE has initiated a One-Year Diploma in Agricultural Extension Services for Input Dealers (DAESI), which imparts  education in agriculture to the input dealers so that they can establish linkage to  their  business with extension services besides discharging regulatory responsibilities enjoined on them. The objective of this course is to impart Education in Agriculture and other Allied areas to the Input Dealers.