Creating Impact Through Agricultural Education.

What is the value of a good teacher? Anyone fortunate enough to have had a quality teacher knows the answer: That person is priceless. While a teacher’s commitment and dedication are showcased daily in schools, we recognize the qualities and passion that all FALI agricultural educators bring to the classroom.

 

 

 Prajakta Kale (pictured above), who grew up on a farm in Satara, has been an agricultural educator in Baramati for the past three years. While she originally pursued a future as an entomologist, her love for agriculture and education led her into the classroom.

“I think about the end goal for my students, rather than immediate success,” Prajakta says. “While all success is beneficial, as a nontraditional agriculture teacher, I strive to make the content more relevant to all students no matter what career they may go into.”

  

Vikram Zarekar fell in love with FALI after visiting a FALI school near his home, since then he has never looked backed and has been a part of FALI for over four years.

“Through agricultural education, I am able to create personal leadership development and career opportunities that no other teacher is able to,” says Vikram, who serves as a senior agricultural educator in Satara. “Not only do I get to watch them grow, but also my students push me every day to be a better person and teacher.”

 

Sunil Tapre says one of the best parts about being an agricultural educator is that no two days are ever the same.

“Agriculture teachers have a unique job,” Sunil says. “We get to spend five years with our students, travel across Maharashtra and India, and have countless impactful moments during their time as our students.”

Many students of Sunil from rural Nagpur have started their own small agribusinesses after their two years in FALI.

 

Shital Jadhav knew becoming an agriculture teacher was always the plan.

“When I was in class 12th, I had a teacher who mentioned to me that I would be a great teacher, and I never looked back,” Shital says. “She made her job look effortless, fun and a worthwhile investment to impact the future. I don’t even think I had a backup plan.”

eleven years later, Shital has still never looked back. She spends her days changing lives at three schools in rural Satara.

 

 

Shrikant Kakde serves as senior agricultural educator in Aurangabad.

“I love that I get to make an impact on students. I love that I get to introduce students to the work of agriculture, inspire them to be better leaders and better people, and watch them transform before my eyes. At the end of the day, I’m passionate about being an ag educator because I’m passionate about the students I teach.”