🏗️ Important Extension Projects
Comprehensive table of 37 important agricultural extension projects and rural development programmes with year, name, and key remarks for IBPS AFO exam.
Visual Overview
Over the previous lessons in this section, we explored communication, diffusion of innovation, programme planning, and the major government programmes in detail. This final lesson consolidates 37 important extension projects into a single quick-reference table -- from the earliest experiments in the 1900s to modern national missions.
This lesson covers:
- Pre-independence projects -- Sriniketan, Gurgaon, Marthandam, Etawah, Nilokheri
- Post-independence milestones -- CDP, NES, Panchayat Raj, IADP, HYVP
- Employment and development programmes -- IRDP, TRYSEM, NREP, JRY, SGSY
- Modern missions -- NATP, NREGA/MNREGA, NHM, NFSM
This is one of the most frequently tested topics in AFO, SO, and other agricultural competitive exams. Questions typically ask "When was X started?" or "Who started Y?"
Important Extension Projects -- Quick Reference Table
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Visual Overview
Over the previous lessons in this section, we explored communication, diffusion of innovation, programme planning, and the major government programmes in detail. This final lesson consolidates 37 important extension projects into a single quick-reference table -- from the earliest experiments in the 1900s to modern national missions.
This lesson covers:
- Pre-independence projects -- Sriniketan, Gurgaon, Marthandam, Etawah, Nilokheri
- Post-independence milestones -- CDP, NES, Panchayat Raj, IADP, HYVP
- Employment and development programmes -- IRDP, TRYSEM, NREP, JRY, SGSY
- Modern missions -- NATP, NREGA/MNREGA, NHM, NFSM
This is one of the most frequently tested topics in AFO, SO, and other agricultural competitive exams. Questions typically ask "When was X started?" or "Who started Y?"
Important Extension Projects -- Quick Reference Table
TIP
Exam Strategy: Memorize the year + person/place associated with each project. Questions typically ask "When was X started?" or "Who started Y?"
| S.No. | Project | Year | Key Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sriniketan Project | 1914 | Started by Rabindranath Tagore in West Bengal |
| 2 | Gurgaon Project | 1920 | Started by F.L. Brayne; Concept: Village Guide |
| 3 | Shantiniketan | — | Initially started in villages of West Bengal by M.D. Tagore |
| 4 | Rural Reconstruction Scheme | 1903 | By Daniel Hamilton |
| 5 | Marthandam Project | 1921 | Started in Kerala by Dr. Spencer Hatch |
| 6 | Sarvodaya Movement | 1948-49 | Gandhian concept; evoked great enthusiasm in Bombay |
| 7 | Etawah Pilot Project | 1948 | By Mr. Albert Mayer of USA; at village Mahewa in UP |
| 8 | Indian Village Service | 1945 | A.T. Mosher of New York & B.N. Gupta; also attributed to Dr. W.H. Wisher |
| 9 | Sewagram (Wardha) | 1920 | By Mahatma Gandhi |
| 10 | Nilokheri Project | 1948 | Under leadership of S.K. Dey; launched 'Mazdoor Manzil' for township construction |
| 11 | Firka Development | 1946 | By T. Prakashan |
| 12 | Community Development Programme (CDP) | 2 Oct. 1952 | Landmark nationwide programme |
| 13 | National Extension Service (NES) | 2 Oct. 1953 | Follow-up to CDP |
| 14 | Model Village | 1903 | By Hamilton |
| 15 | IADP (Intensive Agricultural District Programme) | 1960 | Also known as "Package Programme" |
| 16 | IAAP (Intensive Agricultural Area Programme) | 1964 | Revised version of IADP; covered selected blocks of 150 districts; 20-25% cultivated area brought under intensive development |
| 17 | ICDP (Intensive Cattle Development Project) | 1963-64 | Focused on cattle development |
| 18 | Panchayat Raj System | Oct 2, 1959 | Suggested by Balwant Rai Mehta Committee; first started at Nagaur, Rajasthan |
| 19 | HYVP (High Yielding Variety Programme) | 1966 | Helped attain self-sufficiency in food |
| 20 | DPAP (Drought Prone Area Programme) | 1973-74 | Watershed development focus |
| 21 | T&V (Training & Visit System) | 1974 | By Daniel Benor; success measured by production increase |
| 22 | ORP (Operational Research Project) | 1974-75 | Disseminated proven technology on a watershed basis |
| 23 | IRDP (Integrated Rural Development Programme) | 1978 | Funded 50:50 by centre and states |
| 24 | Lab to Land Programme | 1979 | Worker: ICAR; for small/marginal farmers & landless labourers |
| 25 | TRYSEM | 1979 | Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment; age 18-35 years |
| 26 | NREP (National Rural Employment Program) | 1980 | Increase rural employment opportunities |
| 27 | DWCRA | 1982 | Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas |
| 28 | NAEP (National Agricultural Extension Project) | 1983 | National level extension |
| 29 | TMO (Technology Mission on Oilseed) | 1980 | Oilseed production focus |
| 30 | JRY (Jawahar Rozgar Yojana) | 1989 | Employment for unemployed rural youth |
| 31 | SGSY (Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana) | 1999 | Replaced IRDP, TRYSEM, DWCRA, SITRA; effective from 1st April 1999 |
| 32 | PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana) | 2000 | To connect all villages with pucca roads |
| 33 | SGRY (Sampoorna Gramin Rojgar Yojana) | 2001 | Employment and food security |
| 34 | NATP (National Agriculture Technology Project) | 1999 | With World Bank assistance; 28 districts, 7 states, 5 years (1998-2003) |
| 35 | NAIP (National Agricultural Innovation Project) | 2006 | Agricultural innovation focus |
| 36 | NREGA/MNREGA | 2006 | Renamed MNREGA on 2 Oct. 2009 |
| 37 | NHM (National Horticulture Mission) | 2005-06 | Horticulture development |
| 38 | NFSM (National Food Security Mission) | 2007 | Food security focus |
IMPORTANT
SGSY is a merger question favourite: SGSY (1999) replaced and merged IRDP + TRYSEM + DWCRA + SITRA into a single holistic programme for self-employment and poverty alleviation.
TIP
Mnemonic for early projects (chronological): "S-G-R-M-S-I-E-F-N-C-N"
- Sriniketan (1914) → Gurgaon (1920) → Rural Reconstruction / Sewagram (1920) → Marthandam (1921) → Sarvodaya / Indian Village Service (1945-48) → Indian Village Service → Etawah (1948) → Firka (1946) → Nilokheri (1948) → CDP (1952) → NES (1953)
Key Facts for Quick Recall
- IADP = Package Programme (1960)
- IAAP = Revised IADP covering 150 district blocks (1964)
- During 3rd Five Year Plan, 30% increase in food grain production was achieved through IADP
- ORP = Operational Research Project, started in 1974-75 to disseminate proven technology on a watershed basis
- IRDP funding ratio = 50:50 (Centre:State)
- Lab to Land Programme was initiated with 75,000 farm families across the country
- LLP objective = improve economic condition of small & marginal farmers and landless agricultural labourers
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Concept / Topic | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Sriniketan | 1914; Rabindranath Tagore; West Bengal |
| Gurgaon Project | 1920; F.L. Brayne; concept of Village Guide |
| Marthandam Project | 1921; Dr. Spencer Hatch; Kerala |
| Etawah Pilot Project | 1948; Albert Mayer; village Mahewa, Uttar Pradesh |
| Nilokheri Project | 1948; S.K. Dey; Mazdoor Manzil |
| Firka Development | 1946; T. Prakashan |
| CDP | 2 Oct 1952; landmark nationwide programme |
| NES | 2 Oct 1953; follow-up to CDP |
| Panchayat Raj | 2 Oct 1959; Balwant Rai Mehta Committee; first at Nagaur, Rajasthan |
| IADP | 1960; also called Package Programme; 30% food grain increase in 3rd FYP |
| IAAP | 1964; revised IADP; 150 districts |
| HYVP | 1966; helped attain self-sufficiency in food |
| T&V System | 1974; Daniel Benor; success = production increase |
| ORP | 1974-75; disseminated technology on watershed basis |
| IRDP | 1978; funded 50:50 (Centre:State) |
| Lab to Land | 1979; ICAR; 75,000 farm families |
| TRYSEM | 1979; rural youth 18-35 years |
| SGSY | 1999; merged IRDP + TRYSEM + DWCRA + SITRA |
| NREGA/MNREGA | 2006; renamed 2 Oct 2009 |
| NFSM | 2007; food security focus |