Lok Sabha Question No. 356 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: Krishi Vigyan Kendras in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Malaiyarasan D

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 356

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH  MARCH, 2026

## KRISHI VIGYAN KENDRAS IN TAMIL NADU

## *356. SHRI MALAIYARASAN D:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) the current number of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) operational within Tamil Nadu and the total number of KVKs planned to be established in the next five years;

- (b) the details of steps taken by the Government to strengthen the existing KVKs and improve  their  capacity  to  provide  advanced  agricultural  knowledge,  technology  and extension services to farmers;

- (c) whether  the  Government  has  identified  any  challenges  or  shortcomings  in  the current functioning of KVKs and if so, the measures being taken to address them;

- (d) the  funds  allocated  and  utilized  for  the  strengthening  and  expansion  of  KVKs during the last three years within Tamil Nadu;

- (e) the manner in which the Government plans to integrate modern technologies such as digital tools, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics in the operations of KVKs to improve extension services for farmers; and

- (f) the impact of the KVKs on agricultural productivity, farmer income and promotion of sustainable farming practices in Tamil Nadu?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)

(a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) to (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 356 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH  MARCH, 2026 REGARDING ' KRISHI VIGYAN KENDRAS IN TAMIL NADU '

(a): There  are  31  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  currently  operational  within  Tamil Nadu.  Five  newly  created  districts  namely  Kanchipuram,  Mayiladuthurai,  Ranipet, Tirunelveli and Tirupathur of Tamil Nadu are not having KVK. Opening of KVK in newly created district is a continuous process as per the prescribed procedure and guidelines.

(b): Strengthening and upgrading the physical infrastructure of KVKs is a priority and consistent process. Several steps have been taken for upgradation of infrastructure and capacity building of KVKs in Tamil Nadu. During 2021-26 plan period, the KVKs of Tamil Nadu have been strengthened with two administrative buildings, two farmers' hostels, twenty demonstration units and thirty farm machineries/implements/vehicles. Further, 61 training  programmes  were  organized  to  update  the  knowledge  and  skills  of  Subject Matter Specialists of KVKs on the latest agricultural technologies during the same period. The  major  areas  covered  during  these  training  programmes  were  digital  agriculture, natural/organic  farming,  plant  protection  and  pest  management,  horticulture  and precision  farming,  soil  health,  climate  change  and  resilience,  livestock  and  poultry technologies, post-harvest technology, value addition and processing, etc.

(c): As per the KVK scheme of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), KVKs have been opened under the administrative control of the different Host Organizations viz State Government, Central Agricultural Universities, State Agricultural Universities, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), Non- Government Organizations (NGOs) and ICAR. Vacant positions in KVKs and frequent transfers of KVK staff are the major challenges in the current functioning of KVKs. Filling up of the vacancies in KVKs and transfer of KVK staff are the responsibility of the concerned Host Organization and ICAR regularly follows up with them.

(d): An amount of Rs.1376.07 lakh was allocated and utilized for the strengthening and expansion of KVKs during last three years within Tamil Nadu.

(e): KVKs are  implementing  ICT  based  Kisan  Sarathi  portal,  for  interface  between farmers and the scientists to provide a seamless, multimedia, multi-ways connectivity to the  farmers  for  knowledge  dissemination.  Big  data  analytics  is  used  in  analyzing  the feedback recorded through Landscape Diagnostic survey from large number of farmers to provide feedback to the research system and development departments for problem solution  and  policy  input.  Training  on  landscape  diagnostic  survey  is  provided  to  the subject matter experts of KVKs.

(f): Such  impact  study  has  not  been  undertaken.  However,  there  is  a  strong mechanism for monitoring and review of KVKs including those of Tamil Nadu to make vibrant  and  effective  institution  of  technology  transfer  at  district  level.  Monitoring  and review of KVKs are done regularly at National, Zonal, University and District level by Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR);  Agricultural  Technology  Application Research Institute; Agricultural Universities and Scientific Advisory Committee of each KVK, respectively. The performance and working of KVKs is also reviewed periodically by Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) and Third Party Evaluation.

The latest review performance of KVKs of Tamil Nadu was carried by QRT in the year 2020. Key findings of the evaluation are summarized below. Each KVK in Tamil Nadu has contributed significantly to technology assessment, frontline demonstrations, and capacity building in its respective district. Most of the KVKs have around 88 percent staff  in  position  and  maintained  16-23  ha  of  instructional  farm  producing  15001.59 quintals  quality  seed  of  different  field  crops  and  1.55  crore  planting  materials  of horticultural  crops,  enabling  diverse  extension  activities.  Major  focus  of  KVKs  for dissemination had been high-impact crop varieties (Paddy: CO-R-50, CO 51; Black gram: VBN-6, VBN-8; Finger millet: ML-365, etc.), integrated crop and nutrient management practices, farm mechanization, and livestock-based technologies.

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