Fisheries Extension Education (2+1)

Visit to KVKs to study the activities and extension approaches of the KVKs

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) or Farm Science Centre was launched by the ICAR in 1974 with the overall objective of providing a strong training support to improve agricultural productivity. They were established as vocational training institutions for imparting need-based and skill-oriented training programmes to farmers and field level extension functionaries. Training courses or activities of each Kendra are decided according to the needs and existing resources of the particular area. The fundamental principles of KVKs are

(i) Improving agricultural production with social justice.

(ii) Work experience (learning by doing) is the main method of imparting training and education.

(iii) Stress on weaker section of the rural population.

(iv) Training to extension workers, practising farmers and to those who want to be self employed.

The major functions of the KVKs include

(i) To organise long-term vocational trainings for rural youth for generating self-employment.

(ii) To organise training for extension functionaries and farmers on improved practices.

(iii) To organise front-line demonstration to generate production data and feedback.

(iv) To collaborate with subject matter specialists of Agricultural Universities in on-farm testing, refining and domesticating technologies.

KVKs are implemented through State Agricultural Universities, ICAR Research Institutes State Governments and Voluntary Organisations. Each KVK has been provided with about 10-12 technical staff and supporting staff. Technical staff specialized in different subjects viz., branches of agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries and home science will be provided to KVKs. Operational area of each KVK is a district and is supposed to have 20 ha. farm land for demonstration purposes.

The first KVK was established in Pondicherry in 1974 and now there are about 588 KVKs (upto 2010) supported by 10 Trainers Training Centres (TTC), 70 Institute Village Linkage Programme (IVLP) and 44 Agricultural Technology Information Centres (ATIC).

During the visit to KVKs, the students need to collect the information on the major activities undertaken by the KVKs in the district, the services rendered by them, their collaboration with other agencies in undertaking extension programmes, their role in technology dissemination and the mechanisms they adopt for carrying out the extension programme.