Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Farm Science centres

KrishiVigyan Kendra (Farm Science Centre) is an innovative institution of ICAR established at district level. The first KVK was established during 1974 and has grown as a largest network in the country with more than 650 KVKs. KVKs are funded by ICAR y with more than 650 KVKs. KVKs are funded by ICAR and administered by ICAR institutes / SAUs /Deemed Universities / Non-government Organizations or State Department of Agriculture. KVKs play a vital role in conducting on farm testing to identify location specific agricultural technologies and demonstrating the production potential of crops at farmers’ fields through frontline demonstrations. They also conduct need based training programmes for the benefit of farmers and farm women, rural youths and extension personnel to update their knowledge and skills and to orient them in the frontier areas of technology development KVK are creating awareness about improved agricultural technologies through large number of extension programmes. Critical and quality inputs like seeds, planting materials, organic products, bio-fertilizers and livestock, piglet and poultry strains are produced by the KVKs and made available to the farmers. Agricultural Knowledge and Resource Centres are set up at KVK to support the initiatives of public, private and voluntary sectors at district level. • On-farm testing to assess the location specificity of agricultural technologies under various farming systems. • Organize frontline demonstrations to establish production potential of technologies on the farmer’s fields. • Capacity development of farmers and extension personnel to update their knowledge and skills in frontier agricultural technologies and enterprises. • Work as Knowledge and Resource Centre for improving overall agricultural economy in the operational area. In order to show the potential of the technologies generated in the Research system and also to increase the area yield per unit area of pulses and oilseeds, the Zonal Directorate of ICAR-ATARI is allocating the Cluster frontline demonstrations on pulses under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and on oilseeds under Nation Mission on Oil seeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) to almost all the KVKs. Single component and whole package were demonstrated on the farmers fields in 2-3 clusters. During the year 016-17, these demonstrations were conducted in the area of 1030 ha covering eight crops. • To enhance the resilience of Indian agriculture covering crops, livestock and fisheries to climatic variability and climate change through development and application of improved production and risk management technologies. • To demonstrate site specific technology packages on farmers’ fields for adapting to current climate risks • To enhance the capacity building of scientists and other stakeholders in climate resilient agricultural research and its application. Under this component, an integrated package of proven technologies would be demonstrated in one village panchayat in each district for adaptation with an aim to mitigate the ill-effects of climate variability in crop and livestock production systems. The technological interventions were implemented on participatory mode. The team in each KVK documented the impact of modules with measurable indicators. The progress of the project activities in all NICRA villages was monitored by ATARI, Hyderabad and monitoring cell at CRIDA. The interventions at each NICRA center cover the following four modules: Module I: Natural Resource Management: This module consists of interventions related to in-situ moisture conservation, water harvesting and recycling for supplemental irrigation, improved drainage in flood prone areas, conservation tillage where appropriate, artificial ground water recharge and water saving irrigation methods. Module II: Crop Production: This module consists of introducing drought/temperature tolerant varieties, advancement of planting dates of rabi crops in areas with terminal heat stress, water saving paddy cultivation methods (SRI, aerobic, direct seeding), frost management in horticulture through fumigation, community nurseries for delayed monsoon, location specific intercropping systems with high sustainable yield index. Module III: Livestock and Fisheries: This module consists of use of community lands for fodder production during droughts/floods, improved fodder/feed storage methods, preventive vaccination, improved shelters for reducing heat stress in livestock, management of fish ponds/tanks during water scarcity and excess water, etc. Module IV: Institutional Interventions: This module consists of institutional interventions either by strengthening the existing ones or initiating new ones relating to seed bank, fodder bank, commodity groups, custom hiring centre, collective marketing and introduction of weather index based insurance and climate literacy through a village level weather station. ...view more