A key pillar of the programme was the onboarding of new Village-Based Advisors and the refresher training of existing VBAs. In total, over 50 VBAs participated in intensive capacity-building sessions designed to standardize extension messaging and enhance practical advisory skills at the grassroots level.

The training covered core technical areas such as certified seed systems, potato agronomy, integrated pest and disease management (with emphasis on late blight control), soil fertility management, post-harvest handling, and demonstration plot establishment and management. VBAs were also trained on farmer engagement approaches, data collection, and basic agribusiness advisory skills to support farmers beyond production.

Practical field sessions, including disease scouting and calibration of spraying equipment, ensured that VBAs gained hands-on experience. The strengthened VBA network is expected to play a critical role in sustaining farmer adoption of improved technologies and ensuring continuous technical backstopping within communities.