The Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) mooted the idea of establishing Krishi Vigyan Kendras (Agricultural Science Centres) as innovative institutions for imparting vocational training to the practising farmers, school dropouts and field level extension functionaries. The first KVK was set up in 1974 in Puducherry and today there are 721 KVKs across the country. In an Exclusive interview with The Organic Magazine, S K Tyagi, Scientist (Horticulture Division), KVK, Khargone, Madhya Pradesh speaks about the role of KVKs and how they are using technology to disseminate information to farmers.
What is your insight on the organic agriculture sector in India? Especially in horticulture?
Due to the demand for organic products and increasing awareness of organic farming in national and international markets, there is a lot of potential for organic farming in India. India can emerge as a major organic producer.
India’s major exports include Basmati Rice, Guar gram, Onion, grapes, Processed fruits and vegetables, processed milk, wheat and corn. According to the report of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), in 2019-20, a total of 1,81,78,336.89 metric tons of food products were exported. In 2019-20, in value terms, Rs 1,15,32,381.06 lakh worth of food products were exported.
What is the role of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)? What was the vision behind setting them up? How are they funded?
The Education Commission (1964-66) recommended that a vigorous effort be made to establish specialised institutions to provide vocational education in agriculture and allied fields at the pre and post matriculate levels to cater the training needs of a large number of boys and girls coming from rural areas.
The Commission, further, suggested that such institutions be named as ‘Agricultural Polytechnics’. The recommendation of the Commission was thoroughly discussed: during 1966-72 by the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Planning Commission, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and other allied institutions.
Finally, the ICAR mooted the idea of establishing Krishi Vigyan Kendras (Agricultural Science Centres) as innovative institutions for imparting vocational training to the practising farmers, school dropouts and field level extension functionaries. The ICAR Standing Committee on Agricultural Education, in its meeting held in August, 1973, observed that since the establishment of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) was of national importance which would help in accelerating the agricultural production as also in improving the socio-economic conditions of the farming community, the assistance of all related institutions should be taken in implementing this scheme.
The ICAR, therefore, constituted a committee in 1973 headed by Dr. Mohan Singh Mehta of Seva Mandir, Udaipur (Rajasthan), for working out a detailed plan for implementing this scheme. The Committee submitted its report in 1974.
The first KVK, on a pilot basis, was established in 1974 at Puducherry (Pondicherry) under the administrative control of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. At present there are 721 KVKs, out of which 498 are under State Agricultural Universities (SAU) and Central Agricultural University (CAU), 66 under ICAR Institutes, 104 under NGOs, 38 under State Governments, and the remaining under other educational institutions.
The budget for the operation of Krishi Vigyan Kendras is allocated by the ICAR, New Delhi. KVKs are engaged in the following activities:
- On-farm testing to assess the location specificity of agricultural technologies under various farming systems.
- Frontline demonstrations to establish production potential of technologies on the farmers’ fields.
- Capacity development of farmers and extension personnel to update their knowledge and skills on modern agricultural technologies.
- To work as Knowledge and Resource Centre of agricultural technologies for supporting initiatives of public, private and voluntary sectors in improving the agricultural economy of the district.
- Provide farm advisories using ICT and other media means on varied subjects of interest to farmers.
- In addition, KVK would produce quality technological products (seed, planting material, bio-agents, livestock) and make it available to farmers, organise frontline extension activities, identify and document selected farm innovations and converge with ongoing schemes and programmes within the mandate of KVK.
Farming research in India is still lagging behind other countries. Your comments.
India ranks first in mango, banana, papaya, lemon, okra, jute, pulses and milk production in the world while in sugarcane, paddy wheat, groundnut, tobacco, tea, onion and garlic, we occupy the second position. Some countries have developed modern technologies in the field of agriculture and we are working with them. Advanced varieties and production techniques of all crops have been developed in India, yet more work needs to be done on the development of pest and disease resistant varieties.
What more does the government need to do?
The government needs to do branding of Indian agricultural products at the international level and encourage export of agricultural products so that farmers get maximum value for their crop.
Your take on the future of farming. Is it going to be digitised? Do you think our farmers can adapt to Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things? Can the KVKs handhold them?
Presently, due to the arrival of educated youth in the field of agriculture, digital technology in agriculture such as Kisan Mobile Messaging Service (KMAS), agriculture website, mobile app, WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube videos is increasingly being used. In the future, the trend towards digital farming will increase and farmers will get agricultural information through more digital technology.
At present, through the KVKs, farmers are being provided technical information and solutions to their problems using Kisan Mobile Messaging Service, WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube videos through Krishi Vigyan Kendras. Some agricultural science centers have also developed their own mobile apps through which, technical information is being provided to the farmers.
It is said that India’s exports of organic fruits and vegetables are negligible due to huge domestic demand. Can we increase the production to become a major exporter?
On the contrary, many times the production of fruits and vegetables in India exceeds the requirement. Due to excess production, farmers are not able to get the cost price of their produce. There is a need to make a well planned approach for the export of fruits and vegetables and in this area there is a great need for private participation.
