}

Genesis of KVK

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (the Farm Science Centre) is a noble concept developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) which rests upon a solid base of transfer of technology from laboratory to farmer's field with respect to Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal husbandry, Floriculture. Bee keeping, Mushroom Cultivation, Broiler Farming and allied subjects. As per the recommendations of the Education Comission (1964-66) and further consideration by the Planning Commission and Inter-Ministerial Committee, the ICAR decided to establish Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in the Country. First KVK as established in Pondicherry during 1974. Till the end of IX Plan (2001-02) within a span of 27 years the Govt has approved establishment of KVK's in all the 578 districts in the country. In the last three years (2002-2005) 178 KVK's have been sanctioned including 128 during 2004-2005. At present there are 488 rural districts covered with KVKs including all the districts of J&K; state. The Council has a plan to set up KVKs in the remaining districts during the X Plan period. The facilities created through the network has benefited a large number of farmers in the past through out the country. These facilities included 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 seed and 59.90 lakh seedlings / saplings. Indian Council of Agricultural Research emphasized on the research in agriculture and allied subjects during 1960's to generate new technology for increasing crop production in different agro climatic zones of the country. A lot of technologies were generated through constant effort of the scientists to boost up the production. But the technologies so generated in the research field are not transferred through extension agencies of different state Government. It is observed that a lot of technologies could not reach the farmer due to high cost of adoption, lack of the interest of the extension agencies. Hence the transfer of the technology was not complete and effective. Later on KVKs were established for easy and active participation of farmers through Front Line Demonstration and on Farm Testing. As per the mandate of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, KVK will operate under the administrative control of State Agricultural University (SAU) or Central Institute situated in a particular area. Different scientists from different disciplines as per the specific requirement of that particular area are posted in the Krishi Vigyan Kendra as Training Associates. Generally there are six categories of scientists posted in the KVK. i.e. (i) Training Associate (Crop Production) to look after the experiment on field crops as well as provide training and advice on different field crops. (ii) Training Associate (Horticulture) looks after the training and demonstration on horticultural crops such as vegetables, fruits and flowers.(iii) Training Associate (Plant Protection) Provides training and demonstration on control of different pests and diseases in different crops. He also imparts training and advice on different types of pesticides and insecticides, their methods and time of application. (iv) Training Associate (Animal Science) looks after over all growth and management of animal resource of that particular area. He also imparts training and advices on broiler farming, dog rearing as well as rabbit rearing etc. (v) Training Associate (Agricultural engineering) looks after the use of different agricultural implements in the field for different agricultural operations through training, demonstrations and on farm testing. (vi) Training Associate (Home Science) involved in the improvement of skill and attitude of the farmers and farm women as well as provides advices and training on kitchen gardening preparation of nutritional food and different handicrafts. They also imparts training regarding the preservation and storage of fruits and vegetables for rural youths of the adopted village. Training Organizer, head of the KVK. family coordinates the work of all scientists for smooth functioning of the KVK as well as for the benefit of the rural people of that particular area. He is also liaisoning with other line departments for coordination and effective implementation of different programs of the KVK in the adopted village. Every KVK has adopted 4 - 6 economically, culturally and technologically backward villages situated within 10-20 Kms radius of the KVK These villages are not too small or too large. Before adoption a detailed survey of the village is conducted to study the socio-economic and cultural status of that village. Now-a-days Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tool is used to conduct the survey in which the village people are actively participating in the process. Basing upon the survey the field crop maps, animal resource map and other ancillary maps are being prepared for future use. After the survey work detailed plan of work is chalked out and depending upon the requirement different actions are undertaken in different areas by KVKscientists.

BASIC PRINCIPLES

Need for increased productivity in agriculture has posed new challenges not only for development of appropriate farm technologies 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, research institutions, public administration, open market and other unlimited partners. Farmer�s requirements include 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 visits, kisan melas, kisan goshties, exhibition, seminars as well as print and electronic media. The prime goal of KVK is to accelerate Agricultural and Allied productions; provide principal methods of imparting skilled training by `Teaching by doing' and `Learning by doing� and to make efforts to uplift economically poor ones. The objectives are Planning & conducting production oriented need based short and long duration training courses both on campus and off campus; developing and organizing non-formal education programmes by way of field demonstrations, farm visits, farmers fair, radio talk, Farm Science Clubs etc.; Organizing Farm Science Clubs, both in Rural Schools and in Villages in order to attract younger generation and develop their interest in Agricultural & Allied sciences; developing and maintaining farms and Demonstration Units on scientific lines as the facilities for providing work experience to the trainees and also disseminating latest technical know how; providing practical training facilities of the Kendra to the teachers and the students of vocational Agricultural of High Schools & Higher Secondary Schools; Imparting some general education to rural illiterates and school drop-out's in order to make them not only good farmers but also better Citizens and to Provide added training facilities in the areas of home science and nutrition education for rural community. In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives K.V.Ks undertake Farm Advisory Service, training programme for different categories of people, training programme for the extension functionaries, Front Line Demonstration (FLD) and On Farm Testing (OFT).

Progress made so far in J&K;

Indian Council of Agriculture Research was pleased to sanction one model KVK under the administration of SKUAST (K) with its headquarters at Malangpora, Pulwama during 2000 and instantly it commenced functional activities. At present every district of Jammu and Kashmir State has been covered under the scheme. Activities of KVKs are administered by Directorate of Extension Education, SKUAST (K). These centers have made significant contributions in the field of agriculture in general and extension education in particular in light of objectives set for these innovative institutions. They serve as fountainheads of new introduced techniques and technologies as well as instruments for increasing agricultural production and transforming rural life. Initially the off campus trainings were given emphasis due to non-availability of infrastructure. However, from 2003, the on campus training has become a core activity of the KVK. Apart from conducting these demonstrations various innovative approaches were undertaken for providing the environment friendly packages to meet the farmers problems. An overwhelming response of the farmers to these eco-friendly practices later paved the way for forming various farmer interest groups and self help groups. The response to these groups organized under the domain of Krishi Vigyan Mandal further motivated the KVKs to establish the Innovative Farmers Club by the year 2004. The club is an informal group of self-experimenting farmers that provides an opportunity for sharing their innovations and practices among themselves. The KVKs have excelled in bringing the modern technological packages at the farmers doorstep with the help of various instructional units. The KVK today has sufficient resources to impart training skills not only to the farmers but also the rural youth. The training schedule typically incorporates the existing needs and problems of the farmers for making a positive impact. It invariably emphasizes on providing both the short term as well as long durational courses specifically to impart practical orientation to these courses. The KVK has started the instructional units for imparting the skills and also for providing the critical inputs as per the demand and need of the farmers. Wherever the response of the farmers to technologies under the Lab to Land Programmes and the on-farm-trials demonstrated by the KVK was multifold the need to take the assistance from the other funding agencies arose. Now the KVK should take initiatives in convincing different State and Central Govt. funding agencies to provide the financial support to undertake the innovative schemes and projects for enhancement of extension programmes outside the purview of the KVK selected villages. All the above mentioned programmes and activities have earned KVK Srinagar and Budgam respect and helped them to serve as a role model for others to follow in the state. More than 75 KVKs have started publication of quarterly newsletters in vernacular languages as well as in English and Hindi for the benefit of the farming community. These newsletters contain information on agricultural operations for incoming three months, besides useful articles on crop production, vegetable cultivation, horticulture, animal sciences, home sciences, 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 and line departments. In order to strengthen the KVKs and to enable them to deliver extension services through cyber media using information communication technologies, ICAR 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 of availability of such information at local level. Although KVKs are providing excellent services in agriculture by imparting training to improve the skill and attitude of the people towards agriculture and allied fields. They also provide proper guidance to solve any problem faced by the people related to agriculture and give constructive and constant advice to start new entrepreneurships. Now it is to be seen how much this transfer to technology programme contributes towards agriculture sector�s GDP which at present is nearly 24 percent.