ICAR Celebrated Golden Jubilee of Krishi Vigyan Kendras | 23 Mar 2024
Why in News?
Recently, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has celebrated the Golden Jubilee of Krishi Vigyan Kendras in 2024.
Key Points
- The first Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) was established by the ICAR on 21st March 1974.
- At present India has a network of 731 KVKs, where each KVK serves more than 5000 farmers.
- KVK network is spread across various states such as Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, West Bengal, etc.
- KVKs serve as a comprehensive hub for technology transfer, capacity building, market information, and skill development for farmers at the grassroots level.
Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)
- KVK is an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS).
- The mandate of KVK is technology assessment and demonstration for its application and capacity development.
- It aims at assessment of location specific technology modules in agriculture and allied enterprises, through technology assessment, refinement and demonstrations.
- KVKs also produce quality technological products (seed, planting material, bio-agents, livestock) and make it available to farmers.
- The KVK scheme is 100% financed by the Government of India and the KVKs are sanctioned to Agricultural Universities, ICAR institutes, related Government Departments and Non Government Organizations (NGOs) working in Agriculture.
- KVKs act as a bridge between the laboratories and farmland. According to the Government, these are crucial to fulfilling the target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.