India Region

India Ends 2024 with 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)

28 January 2025, New Delhi: As of the end of 2024, India maintains a network of 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), serving as agricultural extension centers aimed at applying agricultural research in practical, localized settings. 

The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in India operate under various administrative bodies, ensuring widespread outreach and effective management. These KVKs are managed by State Governments, with 38 centers under their administration. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutes oversee 66 KVKs, while non-governmental organizations (NGOs) manage 103 centers. Agricultural universities play a significant role, administering 506 KVKs, and 3 are run by central universities. Public sector undertakings (PSUs) are responsible for 3 KVKs, while 7 centers are under deemed universities, and 5 are managed by other educational institutions. This diverse structure helps to expand the reach of agricultural innovations and technology to farmers across India.

The state-wise distribution of KVKs is as follows:

State/Union TerritoryNumber of KVKs
Andaman & Nicobar Islands3
Andhra Pradesh24
Arunachal Pradesh17
Assam26
Bihar44
Chhattisgarh28
Delhi1
Goa2
Gujarat30
Haryana18
Himachal Pradesh13
Jammu & Kashmir20
Jharkhand24
Karnataka33
Kerala14
Ladakh4
Lakshadweep1
Madhya Pradesh54
Maharashtra50
Manipur9
Meghalaya7
Mizoram8
Nagaland11
Odisha33
Puducherry3
Punjab22
Rajasthan47
Sikkim4
Tamil Nadu32
Telangana16
Tripura8
Uttar Pradesh89
Uttarakhand13
West Bengal23
Total731

In the past three years, KVKs have conducted approximately 132,000 assessment trials and 869,000 demonstrations on various technologies related to crops, livestock, fisheries, farm machinery, and other enterprises. These efforts aim to evaluate and promote the adoption of new agricultural technologies among farmers. 

The government continues to invest in upgrading the infrastructure of KVKs to enhance their services to farmers. In the last year, a budget provision of ₹7,730.76 lakh was allocated for infrastructure improvements, including administrative buildings, farmers’ hostels, demonstration units, and farm development works. 

Regular monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are in place to ensure KVKs function effectively as institutions for technology transfer at the district level. Recent evaluations have highlighted KVKs’ contributions, including generating additional net farm income, achieving a high rate of return on expenditure, and increasing outreach to farmers. 

Overall, KVKs play a crucial role in bridging the gap between agricultural research and practical application, thereby contributing significantly to the advancement of India’s agricultural sector.

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