R. Dwarakinath, one of the pioneers of the country’s agricultural extension system, died in Bengaluru on Saturday. He was 92.
A big name in the State agriculture sector, Dr. Dwarakinath held various top posts, including that of State Agriculture Director and Vice-Chancellor of University of Agricultural Sciences-Bengaluru. He had also served as consultant to Food and Agriculture Organisation of the U.S.
Hailing from Chintamani taluk in Chickballapur district, he was mainly credited with strengthening agricultural extension system at the grassroots level.
He emphasised on giving a humane touch to the agricultural extension system, besides trying to infuse quality into it. “The main aim of agricultural extension should be to resolve farmers’ problems instead of merely sticking to mechanical transfer of agri-technologies,” Dr. Dwarakinath had told this correspondent, during an interaction on the problems of the present farm extension system. Such was his passion for extension system that he had donated savings from his retirement benefits to be created as a fund to identify and honour the best farm extension workers on an annual basis.
His last rites were performed at Banashankari crematorium in Bengaluru on Sunday.