11th National Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Conference

11th National Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Conference

• The Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar has urged the agricultural scientists in the field to reach out to the marginalized farmers. Inaugurating the 11th National Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Conference -2020
• KVKs should serve not only the affluent, resourceful and Progressive farmers but also focus on the small and deprived farmers. KVKs have a great responsibility by taking the fruition of the laboratories to the field
• Enough R&D has been done in the Agriculture sector, - superior crop varieties released, 171 mobile apps developed for farmers and more than three lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) opened, but now this must percolate down to the poorest of poor farmers. This is crucial to fulfilling the target

eNAM

• The eNAM portal has been created so that the farmer gets a better price for his produce. Already 585 Mandis have boarded the eNAM platform and another 415 Mandis will be added in due course. More than Rs.91,000 crore of eVyapar (e-trade) has been performed on the eNAM
• The share of Agriculture & allied sector to India’s GDP is itself low, but it is a matter of concern that within this sector, the contribution of Agriculture alone is lower than that of Horticulture, Fisheries, and even Animal Husbandry.
• the Government aims to set up at least two Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in each block. Three factors have contributed to surplus foodgrains, - primarily the farmers’ labor, secondly the role of agricultural scientists, labs, and universities and thirdly the central and state governments’ farmer welfare policies, schemes and incentives

About Krishi Vigyan Kendra

• A Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) is an agricultural extension center in India. The name means "farm science center". Usually associated with a local agricultural university, these centers serve as the ultimate link between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and farmers and aim to apply agricultural research in a practical, localized setting. All KVKs fall under the jurisdiction of one of the 11 Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) throughout India.
• As of January 2020, there were approximately 716 KVKs throughout India

Responsibilities of Krishi Vigyan Kendra

• On-Farm Testing: Each KVK operates a small farm to test new technologies, such as seed varieties or innovative farming methods, developed by ICAR institutes. This allows new technologies to be tested at the local level before being transferred to farmers.
• Front-line Demonstration: Due to the KVK's farm and its proximity to nearby villages, it organizes programs to show the efficacy of new technologies on farmer fields.
• Capacity Building: In addition to demonstrating new technologies, the KVK also hosts capacity building exercises and workshops to discuss modern farming techniques with groups of farmers.
• Multi-sector support: Offer support to various private and public initiatives through its local network and expertise. It is very common for government research institutes to leverage the network of KVKs when performing surveys with a wide range of farmers.
• Advisory Services: Due to the growing use of ICT, KVKs have implemented technologies to provide farmers information, such as weather advisories or market pricing, through radio and mobile phones.
• In each of these activities, the KVK focuses on crops and methods specific to the local climate and industry. Some factors which may impact this decision are soil type, crops grown, water availability, seasonal temperatures, and allied sectors such as dairy and aquaculture. In addition to addressing local factors, KVKs are also mandated to increase the adoption of practices that align with remunerative agriculture, climate-smart agriculture, and dietary diversification. Some KVKs also host social activities to facilitate rapport between the institutions and the local community.

Source: PIB