Strengthening Krishi Vigyan Kendras: A Step Towards Empowering Farmers

21 December 2024, New Delhi: The Government of India is consistently working to upgrade the infrastructure of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) across the nation to enhance their services for farmers. In the last fiscal year, a budgetary allocation of ₹7730.76 lakh was made to improve infrastructure facilities, including administrative buildings, farmers’ hostels, demonstration units, and farm development works. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to equipping KVKs with modern resources to aid technology dissemination at the district level.

To ensure that KVKs remain vibrant and effective institutions for technology transfer, a robust monitoring and review mechanism has been established. This includes regular evaluations conducted at national, zonal, university, and district levels by entities such as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes, Agricultural Universities, and the Scientific Advisory Committees of individual KVKs.

In addition, the government periodically evaluates the performance of KVKs through Quinquennial Review Teams and third-party agencies. Notable assessments conducted in 2019 and 2020 by the International Food Policy Research Institute and the Indian Society of Agribusiness Professionals highlighted several achievements. These include generating an additional net farm income of ₹5752 per hectare, achieving a remarkable cost-benefit ratio of 1:11.78, and increasing the outreach of trained farmers, with one trained farmer disseminating knowledge to 30 fellow farmers. There has also been notable growth in women’s participation in training programs, as well as increased seed production and planting material distribution.

Currently, KVKs operate under various institutions, including state governments (38), ICAR (66), NGOs (101), and agricultural universities (509). Their efforts play a crucial role in taking ICAR-developed technologies directly to farmers’ fields for localized assessment under different farming systems. Over the last three years, KVKs have conducted 1.32 lakh assessment trials and 8.69 lakh technology demonstrations on diverse aspects such as crop management, livestock, fisheries, farm machinery, and other enterprises. These initiatives have significantly contributed to the adoption of advanced agricultural practices by farmers.

Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Bhagirath Choudhary, shared this information in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, highlighting the pivotal role of KVKs in bridging the gap between research and real-world farming.

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