National Agricultural Research System

The National Agricultural Research System conducts basic and strategic research in agriculture to enhance the productivity of the farming activity as a whole. To take that research to farms, a mechanism has been evolved in the form of Krishi Vigyan Kendras.

 The activities of the KVK include on-farm testing to establish the location specificity of agricultural technologies under various farming situations, frontline demonstrations to establish its production potentials on the farmers’ fields, training of farmers to update their knowledge and skills in improved agricultural technology, and training of extension personnel to orient them in the frontier areas technology development.
 

Technology Transfer Time
KVKs act as training centers for the transfer of technology with the aim to reduce the time lag between the generation of technology and their transfer. Institutional and location specific trainings and demonstrations are generally aimed at technology evaluation and dissemination. The in-built system of functioning of the agencies of the technology development and dissemination.

 Based on the recommendation of the education Commission and further consideration by the planning Commission and Inter-Ministerial Committee, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research decided to establish Krishi Vigyan Kendra in the country. Thus the first KVK was established in Pondicherry during 1974, till the end of IX Plan within a span of 27 years, the number of KVKs had risen to 276. During the X plan, the government has approved establishment of KVKs in all the 578 rural districts in the country. In the last years, 178 KVKs have been sanctioned including 128 during 2004-05. At present there are 488 rural districts covered with KVKs. The Council has a plan to set up KVKs in the remaining districts during the X Plan. The facilities created through the network has benefited a large number of farmers during the last year including 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 seeds and 59.90 lakh seedlings/saplings.


There is increasing concern for imbalance in the availability of the plant nutrients from the soil resulting on degradations of soil fertility and lower productivity of crops. Further, the impending threat due to use of poor quality water for irrigation necessitates determination of water quality for taking corrective measures. The growth and production of fish depends on both the quality of tank soil and water quality. Monitoring soil and water quality parameters and taking appropriate corrective measures based on soil and water analysis remain an important aspects of increased agricultural production. In order to increase accessibility of the farmers for soil and water testing facilities, during 204-205, 206 KVKs have been provided funds for establishment of soil and water testing facilities. During the current financial year 120 more KVKs will be provided with such facilities.