Lok Sabha Question No. 5957 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-03
Subject: Functioning of Krishi Vigyan Kendras
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: M. CHANDRAKASI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5957

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03/04/2018

## FUNCTIONING OF KRISHI VIGYAN KENDRAS

## 5957.  SHRI M. CHANDRAKASI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the feed back received by the Government on functioning of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in various States of the country including Tamil Nadu and the details of the role envisaged for KVKs in agriculture growth and development; and
- (b) the initiatives and steps taken by these KVKs in Cauvery delta region to educate farmers to take up crop diversification/alternate cropping etc.?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h

## (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) A Third Party evaluation of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) has been carried out by  National  Institute  of  Labour  Economics  Research  and  Development  (NILERD),  an autonomous institute  under  NITI  Aayog.    The  major  observations  and  findings  of  this evaluation are as follows:-
-  It  was  observed  that  KVKs  are  playing  a  proactive  role  in  transferring  new technology at field level with beneficial impacts.
-  The KVKs have an edge in technology transfer over other service  providers by virtue of having better technical expertise and demonstration abilities.
-  About  40 percent farmers reported that they implemented  the technology immediately after its dissemination by KVK and that 25 percent did so from the next agricultural season.
-  On an average a KVK covers 43 villages and 4300 farmers per year.
-  96% farmers' requests were attended by KVKs.

-  42% technologies adopted by farmers resulted in higher productivity.
-  About 25% of the persons trained started self-employment ventures.
-  With the intervention  by  KVKs, about 80 percent of the farmers have modified their  agricultural  patterns  which  were  related  to  diversification  of  crops  and changes  in  cropping  pattern,  seed  planting  technique,  use  of  fertilizers  and pesticides, changes in machinery used and in water use pattern.
-  More than 50 percent of the farmers have mechanized their farm operations.

Further,  NILERD  conducted  categorization  study  of  the  KVKs  on  the  basis  of mandated  activities,  impact  of  the  activities,  allied  activities,  accolades  and  other parameters.

The study revealed that 91% KVKs are in A & B category (43% in A and 48% in B), 8% in C and 1% in D category.  The reasons of KVKs placed under C & D category may be attributed to vacant staff positions and infrastructure as these KVKs are new and are under establishment stage.

As far as KVKs of Tamil Nadu are concerned, 45% KVKs are in A category, 48% in B category and 7% in C category.

As  regards  role  of  KVKs,  these  grass  root  level  scientific  organizations  are mandated with technology assessment and demonstration for its application and capacity development of farmers and extension personnel.  Besides, KVKs also produce quality seeds and planting materials; and provide diagnostic and advisory services to the farmers for adoption of good agricultural practices.

(b) The initiatives and steps taken by the KVKs in Cauvery delta region to educate farmers to take up crop diversification / alternate cropping are given in the Annexure .

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## The initiatives and steps taken by KVKs in Cauvery delta region to educate farmers to take up crop diversification / Alternate cropping

Three  KVKs  situated  in  the  Cauvery  delta  region  namely  KVK,  Tiruvarur,  KVK  Sikkal  and KVK,  Pudukottai  are  actively  involved  in  demonstrating,  training  and  exposing  farmers  in technologies of alternate cropping, crop diversification, etc.  KVK-wise details are as follows:-

## KVK Thiruvarur, Thiruvarur District

1. The KVK Thiruvarur had implemented revival of millets in Thiruvarur District.  In this Scheme, 30 acres  of  Kudiraivali  (Barnyard  Millet)  was  demonstrated  in  farmers'  field and popularized through local newspapers during 2015-16 & 2016-17.
2. During Kuruvai season of 2017, KVK Thiruvarur has introduced maize as an alternate crop to paddy in 107.5 acres due to paucity of water/delay in release of Cauvery Water.
3. Training programmes, awareness programmes and field days on millet cultivation were conducted  to  showcase  the  Maize  as  the  best  alternate  crop  during  Kuruvai  Season, which require only one third of water in comparison to paddy cultivation.
4. Front  Line  Demonstration  (FLDs)  on  hybrid  maize  {Co(MH)-6  WCS}  and  castor (Yethapur-1) were conducted in 2013-14 & 2014-15.
5. Introduced and popularized cultivation of vegetables like Bhendi, Chillies, Bottle gourd through trials, FLDs & training programmes.

## KVK Vamban, Pudukkottai district

1. KVK, Vamban had demonstrated climate smart and less water requiring crops like pearl millet,  Barnyard  millet,  mixed  fodder  bank  with  cereal  and  legume  fodders  through FLDs.
2. Promotion of short duration YMV resistant Black gram varieties, Bhendi hybrid (CO4), Brinjal (PLR Z), and Bottle gourd (PLR I) through FLDs.
3. Organized Farmer field school on pulses and groundnut.

## KVK Sikkal, Nagapattinam district

-  KVK Sikkal had taken up various initiatives in promoting alternative cropping and crop diversification  through  promotion  of  black  gram  Var  VBN-8  as  an  alternate  crop  for Kharif season.
-  Awareness programmes on alternate crops were organised through training programmes and mass media like All India Radio, News Papers and TV programmes.
-  Cluster Front  Line Demonstrations on green gram and black gram (Var. UBN-6) were organized on large scale (100 acres) during 2016-17 and 2017-18 with very high yield of black gram.

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