Virtual 4th Annual Zonal Workshop of KVKs of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa organized

4^th August, 2021, Pune

The ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone - VIII, Pune, Maharashtra has virtually organized the “4^th Annual Zonal Review Workshop of 82 Krishi Vigyan Kendras” from 4^th to 6^th August, 2021.

The Chief Guest, Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR urged to add atleast one enterprise along with the existing cropping system for doubling the farmers’ income. He also suggested the KVKs for focusing on changing the cropping pattern and nutrition security. The DDG stressed on encouraging the Agripreneurs to focus on Processing and value-addition, FPOs as aggregation model, Entrepreneurship development, enhancing water use efficiency, diagnostic facilities and nutrition mapping.

Dr. V.M. Bhale, Vice-Chancellor, Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra underlined the prevalence of large scale pests on crops and the campaign carried out in an integrated way. He stressed on the need for diverting some areas for oilseeds in view of the shortfall in oilseed production.

Adrushya Kadsiddheshwar Swami Ji, Chairman, KVK, Kolhapur, Maharashtra emphasized on the need for enhancing the dialogue between farm scientists and farmers and exchange of experiences. He stressed on minimizing the loss of food from harvest to meal. His accentuated on creating the Institutional structure for efficient use of the available machinery from the farmers.

Shri Atul Jain, General Secretary, Deendayal Research Institute, New Delhi highlighted the need of confluence of traditional knowledge and modern agricultural knowledge.

The Special Guest, Krishiratna Shri Rajendra Pawar, President, Agriculture Development Trust, Baramati,  discussed about the high-tech cultivation of vegetables and grafting, developing ideal dairy farm, disease diagnostic and advisory.

Shri Vijay Anna Borade, President, Marathwada Agricultural Assistance Board, KVK, Jalna, Maharashtra highlighted the importance of using the high technology and organic farming to double the production of farmers.

Dr. Z.P. Patel, Vice-Chancellor, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari,  outlined the various innovative researches in the biological component of the University. He stressed on the need of better marketing, raising sweet corn, dragon fruit and minor millets.

Earlier, in his welcome address, outlining the work done by the KVKs in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa, Dr. Lakhan Singh, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Pune, Maharashtra briefed about the various projects of the State and the Central Government being initiated through the KVKs and their progress. The different Nutritional Garden Models developed by the KVKs for making Kuposhan Mukta villages was also emphasized in Dr. Lakhan’s address.

More than 280 participants from 82 KVKs, ICAR Institutes, State Agricultural Universities, Heads of NGOs and Farmers virtually participated in the Webshop.

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