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Agriculture is the backbone of the country’s economy. It contributes nearly 24 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while about 65-70 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Being a State subject, the primary responsibility for increasing production rests with the State governments whereas the Central government supplements and coordinates the entire mechanism so that the farming community benefits.
The National Agricultural Research System (NARS) conducts basic and strategic research in agriculture to enhance the productivity of the farming activity as a whole. To take that research to farms, a mechanism has been evolved in the form of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). The activities of the KVK include on-farm testing to establish the location specificity of agricultural technologies under various farming situations, frontline demonstrations to establish its production potentials on the farmers’ fields, training of farmers to update their knowledge and skills in improved agricultural technology, and training of extension personnel to orient them in the frontier areas technology development.
Technology Transfer Time
KVKs act as training centres for the transfer of technology with an aim to reduce the time lag between the generation of technology and their transfer. Institutional and location specific trainings and demonstrations are organized through KVKs and their activities are generally aimed at technology evaluation and dissemination. The in-built system of functioning of the KVKs maintains linkage with the agencies of technology development and dissemination.
Based on the recommendation of the Education Commission (1964-66) and further consideration by the Planning Commission and Inter-Ministerial Committee, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) decided to establish Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in the country. Thus, the first KVK was established in Pondicherry during 1974. Till the end of IX Plan (2001-02), within a span of 27 years, the number of KVKs had risen to 276. During X Plan, the government has approved establishment of KVKs in all the 578 rural districts in the country (as per India 2002). In the last three years (2002-03 to 2004-05), 178 KVKs have been sanctioned including 128 during 2004-05.
At present there are 488 rural districts covered with KVKs. The Council has a plan to set up KVK in the remaining districts during the X Plan period. The facilities created through the network has benefited a large number of farmers during the last year including on-farm trial of 607 technologies, 32,339 frontline demonstrations, training and extension activities with the participation of 21.67 lakh farmers besides 68,708 extension functionaries, and availability of 74,907 q of seeds and 59.90 lakh seedlings/saplings.
There is increasing concern for imbalance in the availability of the plant nutrients from the soil resulting in degradation of soil fertility and lower productivity of crops. Further, the impending threat due to use of poor quality water for irrigation necessitates determination of water quality for taking corrective measures. The growth and production of fish depends on both the quality of tank soil and also water quality. Monitoring soil and water quality parameters and taking appropriate corrective measures based on soil and water analysis remain an important aspect of increased agricultural production. In order to increase the accessibility of the farmers for soil and water testing facilities, during 204-05, 206 KVKs have been provided funds for establishment of soil and water testing facilities. During the current financial year 120 more KVKs will be provided with such facilities.
New Challenges
Need for increased productivity in agriculture has posed new challenges not only for development of appropriate farm technology but also its quick dissemination to the farming community. The knowledge and information has become one of the most critical inputs in agriculture in addition to soil, seed, water, fertilizer, pesticides, farm implements etc. In the present agricultural scenario the farmers need to be linked with the business, systems, research institutions, public administration, other farmers, open market, and other unlimited partners. Farmers’ requirements are market information, weather conditions and disease outbreak, technology for yield and margin maximization, legal compliance issues and procurement policies. KVKs also involve in frontline demonstration to show the production potential of newly released technologies in a given farming system. KVKs undertake extension activities through demonstration, field days, kisan melas, kisan goshties, exhibitions, seminars etc.
More than 75 KVKs have started publication of quarterly newsletters in local languages as well as in English and Hindi for the benefit of the farming community. These newsletters contain information on agricultural operations for the coming three months, besides useful articles on crop production, vegetable cultivation, horticulture, animal sciences, home science, agricultural engineering, etc. The newsletters also carry the schedule of training programmes of the KVK in the ensuing three months. These newsletters are widely circulated to the farmers, gram panchayats and line departments.
Cyber Media
In order to strengthen the KVKs to enable them to deliver extension services through cyber media using information communication technologies, the Council has prepared a plan for establishing e-linkage to 200 KVKs along with 8 Zonal Coordinating Units during the next two years. This will enable the KVKs to have a strong e-linkage with the technology generating institutions as well as for global access of all required information and to act as a gateway for availability of such information at local level.
Content Services
The Content Services will include both the static content like package of practices, recommendations, locally relevant technologies, details of the govt. schemes etc.; and dynamic content including online services, net-meeting, video-conferencing, localized weather forecasting, market prices, interactive voice response system, data base on Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), sources of availability of inputs, laboratory testing facilities for soil, water etc., and online consultancy. Besides, the facility will also provide information on agriculturally important future events in the region through e- news letters/ bulletins on KVK’s website. In order to facilitate quality production procedure, information on Product, Fundamentals and Vocabulary, Quality management requirement, Quality reporting procedures and Certification procedures will also be made available.
Visible Transformation
Significant impact of KVK technological interventions is visible in villages in terms of rainwater harvesting, empowerment of rural and tribal women through income generation activities, dairying as sustainable enterprise for women, reclamation of sodic land, off-season vegetables production, backyard poultry and revival of ginger cultivation in different states. While the winds of change are blowing fast across the world in terms of liberalization of trade and services, agriculture is also witnessing that change in the WTO regime. KVKs, through their activities, are acting as a link to equip and empower the farmers in the country to tackle these changes and to sustain farming as an occupation.
*Chief Publicity & Public Relations Officer, ICAR.
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