Govt approves setting up of Krishi Vigyan Kendra in each district

New Delhi, July 28 (UNI) Minister of State for Agriculture Kanti Lal Bhuria informed the Rajya Sabha that the Government has approved for setting up Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), one in each of the 578 rural districts in the country by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research during the Xth Plan, of which 537 have been sanctioned.

A number of factors contribute to increase in agriculture produce including improved technology generated by National Agricultural Research System, extension systems operated by development departments, and policy environment.

In order to enhance the knowledge and skill of farmers on improved agricultural technology during the first four years of Xth Plan (2002-03 to 2005-06), 26.7 lakh farmers were trained by the KVKs, besides creating awareness by organising a large number of extension activities including kisan melas, field days, kisan goshties, exhibitions, radio and TV talks, and publication of extension literature.

In reply to another question, Mr Bhuria said that a special package for mitigating the stress of farmers for the six districts of Vidarbha region, namely, Wardha, Yevatmal, Amravati, Akola, Buldana, and Washim, was announced by the Prime Minister during a recent visit.

The package aims at establishing a sustainable and viable farming and livelihood support system through debt relief to farmers, improved supply of institutional credit, crop centric approach to agriculture, assured irrigation facilities, watershed management, better extension and farming support services, improved marketing facilities and subsidiary income opportunities through horticulture, livestock, dairying and fisheries, the Minister added.

Agricultural imports, as a percentage of GDP from agriculture in India is less than 4 per cent. India also has a surplus of exports over imports in agriculture trade.

Under the existing WTO rules, India can, inter alia, protect its farmers by raising the applied levels of customs duties within our WTO bindings. This option has been exercised by the country, in recent past, on a number of products.

The WTO rules also permit imposition of safeguard duties, over and above, the bound level of duties, in cases import surges causing serious injury to domestic producers.

The WTO Agreement on Agriculture is, at present, being re-negotiated. In the ongoing negotiations, the Indian proposals are aimed at providing necessary protection to domestic farmers against imports, retaining the flexibility for providing appropriate level of support to farmers in the country and opening up of markets for agricultural products in developed countries; the Minister added.

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