Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)

The book, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)-The Capacity Builder of Farmers provides a holistic view of approaches and avenues for building capacity of farmers to enable them to be in the mainstream of agriculture and rural development in the global village concept under free trade policy. Given that system-based and sustainable technologies like IPM and NRM, which are largely knowledge and skill-based, farmers’ managerial and technical abilities are put to severe test. Farmers make several decisions in addition to production of crops and animals, which have to be in line with the demand of both internal and external markets and that meet household and farm requirements. As a result farming is no longer an occupation for illiterate or laymen. Farmers’ capacity building is thus, on the agenda of every agriculture and development effort in the country. Not many organizations and departments have the resources and proficiency to build farmers’ capacity on scientific lines and to make them competent to face the changing world scenario due to the advent of globalization and liberalization under WTO and Agreement on Agriculture. Krishi Vigyan Kendras are the only district level institutions with a proven potentiality to build farmers’ capacity on their multi-dimensional requirements in a scientific and systematic approach. Contents of this book would guide planners, policy makers and implementing agencies and organizations to have a deeper understanding of the Krishi Vigyan Kendras and to design strategies to work with the KVKs towards creating a vital, productive and efficient force of farming community.