3-Day Annual Zonal Review Workshop of KVKs of Rajasthan, Haryana & Delhi Inaugurated at Udaipur

12 November 2025, Udaipur

The three-day Annual Zonal Review Workshop of Krishi Vigyan Kendras of Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi under the ICAR–Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone-II, Jodhpur, commenced today at Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (MPUA&T), Udaipur.

Dr. Dheer Singh, Director, ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. In his address, Dr. Singh emphasized the pivotal role of KVKs as the frontline extension system responsible for translating scientific innovations from lab to land. He lauded the significant national recognition of KVKs for their grassroots engagement and urged for the inclusion of innovative and youth-oriented activities at the village level to enhance market linkages.

Highlighting the importance of capacity and confidence building among farmers, Dr. Singh underscored the need to promote fodder silage technology for year-round fodder availability. He also suggested exploring CSR funding avenues for infrastructure development and establishing model KVKs across the region.

Prof. Pratap Singh, Vice Chancellor, MPUA&T, Udaipur, and Chairman of the Workshop, elaborated on the university’s initiatives in natural farming, smart villages, community radio stations, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) with seed banks, Custom Hiring Centres, Kharif Abhiyans, and consultancy services. He called for a review of MoUs with agricultural universities, KVK promotion policies, and budgetary frameworks to enhance operational efficiency. Prof. Singh also emphasized the need to improve technology scalability through KVKs and to conduct social assessments of technologies to document and showcase their impact.

Dr. M. M. Adhikary, Former Vice Chancellor, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, lauded the contribution of KVKs toward national agricultural development. He highlighted the importance of local technology adoption, capacity building, FPO strengthening, extension advisory services, climate-resilient technologies, digital transformation, and comprehensive documentation. Dr. Adhikary further emphasized vertical farming, precision agriculture, peri-urban farming, quality seed production, and diversification of the rice–wheat system, particularly in Haryana.

Presenting an overview of Zone-II, Dr. J. P. Mishra, Director, ICAR–ATARI, Jodhpur, outlined the contributions of the 66 KVKs operating under the zone. He highlighted the region’s major strengths in cereal, pulse, oilseed, and seed spice production, as well as dairying. Dr. Mishra showcased scalable technologies and achievements under NICRA, Crop Residue Management (CRM), Cluster Frontline Demonstrations (CFLDs), and natural farming initiatives.

He also detailed the progress made in revolving fund generation, quality seed and planting material production, and external funding mobilization through CSR support, sponsored projects, and institutional convergence. Emphasizing a future-ready vision, Dr. Mishra urged to develop KVKs as one-stop hubs for technology transfer, skill enhancement, and entrepreneurship development.

During the inaugural session, 10 publications were released. Over the next three days, the progress of all 66 KVKs and Directorates of Extension Education from Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi will be presented, reviewed, and discussed by expert panels.

(Source : ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone-II, Jodhpur)