Rural Transformation Through Agri-Enterprise Empowering Farmers and Youth & Focus on Grassroots Entrepreneurship and Youth Involvement

Pankaj Kumar Ojha He did his M.Sc. (Ag.) in Extension Education from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and Ph.D. in Extension Education from Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa. He got University Gold medal in Ph.D. Besides these, he did Post graduate diploma in rural development from IGNOU, Post graduate diploma in Theatre communication from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and MBA (HR & IT) through distance learning mode from Vivekananda Subharti University, Meerut, U.P and PGDETM from University of Hyderabad. He has numbers of publications to his credit including edited books (Four), research papers, book chapters, review articles, popular articles, etc. He is Life member of various professional societies. He was also awarded the national award AIASA Gold Medal for his literary contribution. Presently he is working as an Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda (U.P.).

Dheeraj Mishra is Assistant Professor of Agricultural Extension at Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda. He received his M.Sc. (Ag.) Agricultural Extension degree from R.B.S. College, Bichpuri, Agra and Ph.D in Extension Education from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. He also earned PG Diploma in Mass Communication, PG Diploma in Educational Technology Management and Diploma in Theatre Communication. He has more than 25 research papers and 6 books in his account.

Pragya Ojha is presently working as Subject Matter Specialist (Home Science) at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Banda under the jurisdiction of Banda University of Agriculture & Technology, Banda, U.P. She conferred M.Sc. and Ph.D. degree in the Department of Family Resource Management and Consumer Sciences from Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. She has more than 8 years experience of Teaching, Research and Extension. She was the recipient of ICAR Junior Research Fellowship, University PG Fellowship and UGC-NET JRF. She received Best Paper Presentation Award, Scientist of the Year Award, Young Women Scientist Award and Best Ph.D. Thesis Awards etc. at State, National and International Level particularly for her contribution in the field in Ergonomics, Nutritional Security, Resource Management, Entrepreneurship Development and Home Science. She has number of publications to her credit including books, book chapters, research papers; review papers, popular articles, training manuals, technical bulletins, folders, and leaflets etc. She is associated as Nodal officer and Co-PI in different externally funded and consultancy projects with the aim to improve the agriculture farming in Bundelkhand through suitable technology application.

N. K. Bajpai, is Director Extension of Banda University of Agriculture and Technology Banda UP since 22nd September 2015. He is having almost 34 years' experience of teaching, research and extension in Tribhuvan University Nepal, DAV College Ajmer, Rajasthan Agricultural University Bikaner, MPUAT Udaipur, Jodhpur Agriculture University and BUAT Banda. He did his PG and Ph. D from GBPUAT Pantnagar in Entomology. Besides the post of Director Extension, he also has served in different responsibilities of universities i.e. Head, Dean College of Agriculture, Dean College of Horticulture, Dean Faculty, Director Research, Director Administration and Monitoring, Registrar, Finance Comptroller and also handled the responsibility of Vice Chancellor for one month. In addition, he served in a prestigious assignment in the United Nation as International Plant Protection Consultant for FAO Afghanistan during 2008 and 2009. He also got exposure in Israel. He received many awards of Government, University, Societies etc. He has guided Ph. D. and M. Sc. students of Agricultural Entomology. He published more