Addressing farm sector challenges through capacity building: Case of a research management academy

Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management is a Premier capacity strengthening organization of National Agricultural Research and Education System of the country. The contemporary agricultural scenario and the resultant challenges, faced by the stakeholders of National Agricultural Research and Education System, such as, scientists of research organizations of Indian Council of Agricultural Research; faculty of State Agricultural Universities/Agricultural Universities/Central Agricultural Universities; Subject Matter Specialists of Krishi Vigyan Kendras; research and marketing staff of private agricultural sector; agricultural graduates; entrepreneurs; students; and farmers, provide clues for the Academy to design and organize its capacity strengthening programmes. Evolving science and technology and its management; transforming educational sector and its management; trends in information and knowledge management; and need for augmenting good governance and its management etc., construct the operating environment for National Academy of Agricultural Research Management. Further, these challenges also bring-in opportunities towards inculcating leadership development, innovation systems management, and good governance, with a view to transform National Agricultural Research and Education System in to National Agricultural Innovation System, through capacity strengthening verticals such as training programmes, educational programmes, research and policy advocacy and promoting entrepreneurship in agriculture. By the way, this paper, not only, discusses about the role of National Academy of Agricultural Research Management in engaging the stakeholders of National Agricultural Research and Education System through capacity strengthening programmes, but also, explains the strategic framework and way forward towards capacity strengthening activities. Thus, this paper informs about capacity strengthening strategies of the Academy to its stakeholders, which may be replicable in similar organizations, around the world.