A 3-day Annual Zonal Review Workshop of KVKs of Rajasthan, Haryana & Delhi under ICAR-ATARI, Zone-II, Jodhpur has been inaugurated today at MPUA&T, Udaipur.

Prof. Pratap Singh, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, MPUA&T, Udaipur & Chairman of the workshop highlighted the activities of the University on natural farming, smart villages, community radio stations, FPOs with Seed Banks, Custom Hiring Centres, Kharif Abhiyans, consultancies and sales, etc. He also referred to the MoUs with Agricultural Universities, KVKs promotion policies, budgetary provisions, etc. for relook. He also exhorted to improve technology scalability through KVKs. The social assessments of technology should be analysed, documented and should be highlighted.

Dr. Dheer Singh, Director, ICAR-NDRI, Karnal Chief Guest, stated that role of KVK is very important and recognized well nationally. They are involved at ground level and is a major medium for transfer of technologies from Lab to Land. He also applauded that mandate of KVKs and observed additional activities to be conducted by KVKs. The involvement of youth is very essential for developing models at village levels with market implementation. He said that capacity building along with confidence building will play a greater role to cater the needs of fodder throughout the year by implementation of fodder silage technology and CSR funding for KVKs which should be explored for development of infrastructure and creating model KVKs.

Dr. M. M. Adhikary, Former Vice Chancellor, BCKV, West Bengal observed that the KVKs are working for the development of the Nation. He highlighted the importance of local technology, capacity building, FPOs and extension advisory system, climate resilient technology, digital transformation, documentation, etc. He highlighted importance of vertical farming, precision farming, peri-urban agriculture, quality seed and planting materials and diversification of rice-wheat system particularly in Haryana.

Dr. J. P. Mishra, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Jodhpur presented the overview of Zone-II consisting of 66 KVKs. He highlighted the importance of the Zone in production in cereals, pulses, oilseeds, seed spices, dairying and others. He also highlighted scalable technologies of NICRA project, achievements of CRM, CFLDs, natural farming, farmer solving technologies, revolving funds of the KVKs, quality seed and

planting materials and standardizing external funding through CSR, sponsored projects and convergence, etc. Dr. Mishra also highlighted impactful outcomes of KVKs for mass technology demonstrations, seed and planting materials and crop residue management. He also emphasized to develop KVKs as one stop solution for technology transfer, skill and entrepreneurship development.

In the workshop 10 publications were released. The progress of 66 KVKs and Directorate of Extension Education of Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi will be presented, discussed and reviewed by expert panels.

Source : ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone-II, Jodhpur