KVKs of Jammu and Kashmir Gaining Confidence of Farmers

The need for enhancing the visibility of KVKs in J&K for gaining confidence of farmers and other stakeholders to enhance the coverage of farmers in the state by reaching the remote and far-flung areas of the state. The present Central Government is giving more impetus to KVKs and some new schemes like Nutri-sensitive Agriculture Resource & Innovation (NARI), Value Addition and Technology Incubation Centre in Agriculture (VATICA), Knowledge System & Homestead Agriculture Management in Tribal Areas (KSHAMTA) to be implemented through KVKs.

A Two-day State-level annual action plan meeting of KVKs of Jammu and Kashmir state was organized at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, R.S. Pura, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science & Technology, Jammu to finalize the annual action plans for 2018-19.

Dr. Pradeep K. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu, the Chief Guest, in his inaugural address acknowledged the efforts of ICAR-ATARI, Ludhiana for providing full support to KVKs of Jammu & Kashmir for achieving success in different aspects of agricultural and allied activities. Appreciating the efforts of KVKs, Dr. Sharma expressed that KVKs are the real windows of State Agricultural Universities and stressed upon up-scaling of KVKs’ activities for higher level adoption of recommended technologies on farmers’ fields. He further reiterated the need for enhancing the visibility of KVKs in J&K for gaining the confidence of farmers and other stakeholders. He advised KVKs to enhance the coverage of farmers in the state by reaching the remote and far-flung areas of the state.

Dr. Rajbir Singh, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Zone-I, Ludhiana stressed upon the need for carrying out social budgeting of KVKs using suitable methodology. He also suggested capturing farm level innovations in different districts. He informed that the present central government is giving more impetus to KVKs and some new schemes like Nutri-sensitive Agriculture Resource & Innovation (NARI), Value Addition and Technology Incubation Centre in Agriculture (VATICA), Knowledge System & Homestead Agriculture Management in Tribal Areas (KSHAMTA) etc. are going to be implemented through KVKs.

The heads of all KVKs from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh divisions discussed in detail the activities proposed to be carried out in their respective districts, including the proposed budgets for KVKs.