Annual Zonal Review Workshop for KVKs of Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi inaugurated

19th June 2023, Jodhpur

Three-day Annual Zonal Review Workshop for KVKs of Rajasthan, Haryana & Delhi was inaugurated today at Agricultural University, Jodhpur.

The Chief Guest, Dr. Udham Singh Gautam, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension) briefed about the evolution of KVKs since 1974 and mentioned that KVKs have to focus on national priorities, feedback mechanisms, seed replacement, etc. He also applauded that now India is self-sufficient in Pulses and a mega project on oilseeds can be initiated at Jodhpur by involving DGR, Junagadh, DRMR, Bharatpur, IIOR, Hyderabad, IISR, Indore, AU, Jodhpur, etc. for making India self-sufficient in oilseed and converting India from importing country to exporting country.

Prof. B. R. Choudhary, Vice-Chancellor, Agriculture University, Jodhpur mentioned that the KVKs are the main pillars of the national extension system and KVKs should act more dynamically to address pesticide residue so that there will be no hindrance on the export of commodities. Water management is a major issue being faced in Rajasthan and Haryana and the issue is to be addressed by conserving each drop of water and utilize in an efficient manner, he applauded. He also stressed the bio-fortified varieties, post-harvest and value addition and KVKs should have units on it.

Dr. R. K. Singh, Assistant Director General (AE), ICAR, New Delhi stressed planning, monitoring, climate change, soil salinity issues, quality seed and planting materials, one district one product, and convergence of knowledge by the KVKs.

Dr. J. P. Mishra, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Zone-II, Jodhpur presented the activities carried out by the KVKs during 2022 along with future strategies and mentioned that KVK-KVK linkages to be developed along producers with product owners.

In the workshop more than 40 publications of KVKs were released. In the workshop, Directors of ICAR Institutes/representatives including CAZRI, Jodhpur; IIWBR, Karnal; DAMPR, Anand; CIAH, Bikaner, NRCSS, Ajmer, CSSRI, Karnal, etc. presented on latest technologies for transfer to farmers by the KVKs.

During the three-day workshop, 66 KVKs and 7 Directors of Extension Education of SAUs will present progress for the year 2022 which will be thoroughly discussed and will be critically examined for further improvement.

(Source: ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Jodhpur)