Annual Zonal Workshop - 2019 of KVKs of Zone - IV and V organized

10^th June, 2019, Kolkata

The ICAR-ATARI Kolkata, ICAR-ATARI Patna and Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Coochbehar jointly organized the Annual Zonal Workshop of Krishi Vigyan Kendras of Zone - IV and V at the Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Coochbehar, West Bengal campus from 8^th to 10^th June, 2019.  

In his inaugural address, Dr. A.K. Singh, DDG (Agricultural Extension), ICAR, New Delhi stated that in order to cater to every need of the farmer ranging from information, technology and inputs to marketing, the KVKs should emerge as a Single Stop Shop at the District level. Dr. Singh stressed on the need for the KVKs for embracing the ICT to reach to more farmers as well as developing the competence to prepare the business plan. Dr. Singh highlighted the development of Integrated Farming System models through KVKs, post-harvest management and marketing, etc.

Prof. P. Biswas, Vice-Chancellor, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata stressed on the need to give emphasis on the livestock and fishery sector in order to have enhanced livelihood security specifically in the Eastern Indian States.

Prof. D.D. Patra, Vice-Chancellor, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, West Bengal accentuated on the need to create more consciousness for role of micronutrients in maintaining the soil health and fertility as well as reaching to more number of farmers in the District by the respective Krishi Vigyan Kendras.

Shri Subrata Mandal, Chief General Manager, NABARD provided an insight into the need to train the FPO heads to prepare the business plans and using the Internet of Things (IoT) in agriculture.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Prof. C. Chattopadhyay, Vice-Chancellor, UBKV stated about the salient achievements of the University and its KVKs in shaping the agriculture in northern part of West Bengal.

Dr. S.S. Singh, Director, ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata and Dr. Anjani Kumar, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Patna underlined the achievements of the respective zones for the Year - 2018-19.

The KVKs presented their Progress Reports and Action Plans in six concurrent technical sessions.

Ten publications related to doubling the farmers’ income, success cases and ARYA published by two ATARIs, UBKV and KVKs, etc., were also released during the occasion.

In his valedictory address, Prof. C. Chattopadhyay urged to work upon the factor productivity issue and publication in the foreign journals by the KVKs.

Around 127 KVKs of Andaman & Nicobar Islands (3); Bihar (44); Jharkhand (24); Odisha (33) and West Bengal (23) participated and presented their Progress Reports for the Year - 2018-19 and the Action Plans for the Year - 2019-20.

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