Annual Report 2018-19 ICAR-ATARI-Hyderabad

Abstract

The ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Hyderabad is vested with the responsibility of coordination and monitoring of technology application and frontline extension education programs through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in four states viz. Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Puducherry. At present there are 74 KVKs in the Zone including 32 in Tamil Nadu, 24 in Andhra Pradesh, 16 in Telangana and 2 in Puducherry. The ATARI is also vested with the responsibility of strengthening of agricultural extension research and knowledge management. During 2018-19, KVKs assessed 810 technologies and conducted 12,001 frontline demonstrations in farmers’ fields, undertook 5640 training programmes covering 1,94,085 participants including farmers, farm women, rural youth and extension functionaries. KVKs conducted 6923 number of cluster frontline demonstrations on pulses covering an area of 2880 ha under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM). Similarly, 3735 CFLDs were conducted on oilseeds covering an area of 1524.6 ha under National Mission on Oilseeds and Oilpalm (NMOOP). Seed hubs for pulses started functioning in Tamil Nadu (6), Andhra Pradesh (4) and Telangana (2). During 2018-19, seed hub KVK’s produced 4164 q of seed for supply of quality seed of greengram, blackgram, redgram and bengalgram. Ninety eight enterprise units were established empowering 206 youth under Attracting Rural Youth in Agriculture (ARYA) Project. Fifteen skill training programmes were conducted covering 613 youth. Under the innovative programme of Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav (MGMG), 7 ICAR-research Institutes in the Zone implemented various activities in 283 adopted villages involving 68 teams comprising of 292 scientists. Human Resource Development (HRD) activities were jointly organized by the Directorates of Extension (SAUs) and ATARI benefiting 2360 KVK staff in the Zone. About 6524 farmers were given direct access to institutional resources through three Agricultural Technology Information Centers in the Zone. A number of extension activities were taken up by the KVKs with the participation of 13,30,139 farmers, farm women and extension personnel. All the KVKs were equipped with mini soil testing laboratories to provide soil testing service to farmers. A total of 37,624 Soil Health Cards were distributed to farmers by KVKs in Tamil Nadu (18,252), Andhra Pradesh (11,630), Telangana (7050) and Puducherry (692).