The Hindu Business Line : Govt to electronically link Krishi Vigyan Kendras

THE Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Mr Mangla Rai, has said the Government would electronically link 200 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) by 2007 at a cost of Rs 38 crore to various agricultural universities.

KVKs are primary links established to inform farmers about the latest agricultural technologies and their applications.

Out of 588 total rural districts in the country, at present KVKs have been set up in 492 districts. "All rural districts will have one KVK each by 2007. We will provide 100 per cent funding for this purpose," Mr Rai said.

A total of 128 KVKs were set up in 2004-05, whereas in the first half of current fiscal 41 were set up. "We hope to approve over 100 such centres by the end of this fiscal," Mr Rai said.

We are also looking at providing soil and water testing facility in 326 KVKs by 2007. "For this facility, an investment of Rs 11 lakh would be allocated per KVK. Farmers can then bring their soil and water and get the quality testing done at these centres at nominal charges," said Mr Rai.

KVKs could provide commendable service to various fields of agriculture sector, including supply chain management, post harvest management, cold storage management, seed replacement management and marketing.

Mr Rai also said a two-day National Conference starting from October 27 has been organised on KVKs. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, will inaugurate the conference.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Dubai Gold Exchange to start operating in Nov

Reliance to take up large-scale jatropha farming

Netting foreign exchange

Rubber prices remain unchanged

Bannari Amman to roll out `refined sugar'

Ethanol plan set to gather pace

Irrigation projects: AP CM for faster State-level forest clearances

Banks see good biz in retail sale of gold coins

High prices likely to dampen gold appetite

Ministry offers subsidy for farm marketing infrastructure

Govt to electronically link Krishi Vigyan Kendras