Contribution of Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Rangareddy District

Abstract

Agriculture continues to be the backbone of Indian economy. A vast majority of India’s population depends on agriculture for subsistence. However, ever increasing population and decreasing resource base are posing severe challenge for enhancing agricultural production and productivity. This calls for adoption of better production practices and resource conservation technologies by large number of farmers. In order to achieve this, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) initiated the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) or Farm Science Centres in the early Seventies as innovative institutions for educating farm families. KVK is conceived as a Knowledge Centre for imparting need-based skill oriented training programmes to farmers. It works on the principles of ‘learning by doing’ and ‘teaching by doing’ through training programmes involving experiential learning. The KVK attached to the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) started functioning since 1977 to cater to farmers’ training needs in the droughtprone Rangareddy district of Andhra Pradesh. The major objective of the KVK is to extend need-based and skill oriented training to practicing farmers, rural youth and extension functionaries of the district. The other important objectives are laying out frontline demonstrations, on-farm trials and extension education activities for popularizing improved farm technologies. Livelihood programmes were initiated subsequently for improving the quality of rural life. This bulletin gives an overview of the progress and achievements of the KVK during last thirty years