Krishi Vigyan Kendra: Banaras Hindu University

Krishi Vigyan Kendra or KVK, not many of you might be knowing about it but our campus is privileged to be holding a Krishi Vigyan Kendra in its premises.

KVK was established in 1974 by the government of India through the recommendation of the 2nd education commission report, where the government formed a committee that constituted a subcommittee headed by Dr Mohan Singh Mehta. First KVK was set up in Pondicherry under the executive control of TNAU (Tamilnadu Agriculture University) Coimbatore. At present, there are 706 KVKs across India 83 being in UP. All KVKs fall under the jurisdiction of one of the 11 Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) throughout India. However, the Government of India is aiming to establish a KVK in every district in India.

A Krishi Vigyan Kendra is a vocational institute serving as a source of informal education for practising farmers, rural youth and farm women. It also provides training to extension personnel. The training is both need-based and based on the local resources available to the farmers. Training either takes place on campus (KVK) or off-campus (in the farmer’s field to give demonstrative knowledge).

The concept of KVK being, teaching by doing and learning by doing, is based on work experience and there is no prescribed syllabus. The mandate of kvk includes Providing advisory services such as Kisan goshti, Kisan diwas, Kisan Mela, Field demonstration, etc. On-farm testing includes technology refinement and assessment.

Human resource development includes providing training to practising farmers, rural youth, farm women and district level extension personnel.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Mirzapur was sanctioned in the year 1984 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under the administrative control of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and it became functional from the year 1987 at Agricultural Research Farm, KVK Mirzapur.

KVK Mirzapur is adorned with one professor coordinator, 5 subject specialists along various officials who carry out their job efficiently.

All of them constitute a single unit hence giving shape to KVK Mirzapur. We BSc Agriculture students are lucky enough to get this esteemed opportunity to pursue graduation under the guiding hands of such renowned scientists.

Mirzapur lies in the South-East part of Uttar Pradesh. With a population of more than 20 lacs, the district contains 1698 villages. Agro-climatically, the district falls under two zones, viz. Indo-Gangetic Plain and Vindhya Zone with alluvial soil and degraded soil respectively. The place has no assured irrigation facilities and hence, the farmers mostly practice specific dryland agriculture. The district is quite rich in terms of livestock population too.

In the resource-poor Vindhya zone with less water and degraded soil. The activities of the KVK is mostly concerned with the promotion of dryland technology like water harvesting, promotion of low water crops, resource conservation technology, integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management, farm mechanization, agricultural processing, productivity enhancement in cattle, entrepreneurship development in rural youth and farm woman, production and supply of technological products, soil and water conservation, and testing, extension activities supported by the regular publication, etc.

The presence of 500 acres of the farm within the campus for agriculture purposes aids in the practical knowledge.
Also there\’s a scope of numerous opportunities to learn for the agriculture students as they get to see such rich diverse flora around.

There are various programs conducted by KVK on a regular basis within the campus 1-3 day training programs on and off-campus. Demonstration of Rabi (Cereal, Pulses, Wheat, fodder) and Kharif crops (Paddy, fodder, Cereals) Conducting farm fairs such as the Jal Shakti program, Swacchata Abhiyan, Rabi/Kharif Goshti. Such programs serve as a medium for our agriculture students to get acquainted with the new technology. Seed production program, goat unit development, nursery programs, etc.

There are several varieties that have been to date developed in the laboratories and fields of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences BHU. Some of them are:

• Naren-97 (Paddy)
• H-234 (Wheat)
• Gujarat-4 (Sesame)
• Radhe Type-4 (Gram)
• Kashi Vishwanath (Lentils)
• Pusa Barani (Mustard)
• Naren-7 and  chakkaiya (Aonla)

These varieties have been introduced among the farmers via demonstration by KVK Mirzapur and practical application within the field. Krishi Vigyan Kendra holds its literal meaning in being a centre providing scientific (agriculture technology) knowledge to the farmers and the KVK Mirzapur unit rightfully performs the job. With due respect to the entire unit working for the cause.

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