Pawar to open KVK meet

Hyderabad, Nov 25 (UNI) Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar will inaugurate the second National Conference on Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) at Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) tomorrow.

Addressing a press conference here today, ANGRAU Vice-Chancellor S Raghuvardhan Reddy said about 1,000 delegates, including programme co-ordinators of more than 500 KVK swould take part in the two-day conference jointly organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the ANGRAU.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy would be the chief guest and State Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy will address the gathering.

In the fast changing scenario of agriculture, the conference would address various issues related to technology development and delivery system for agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, natural resources management and processing and value addition and measures for increased export of agricultural products.

An exhibition with 60 stalls depicting technologies from select ICAR Institutes, Agricultural Universities and KVKs would be organised.

ICAR Deputy Director General- Agricultural Extention P Das said the first national conference held in New Delhi last year discussed various matters concerning the KVKs and came out with several recommendations to strengthen its activities.

At present, KVK centres were operating in 540 of the 589 districts proposed by the government. The remaining centres would be set up during XI Five Year Plan.

As many as 200 KVK centres would be connected by V-SAT by the end of the financial year.

He said the two-day conference would take stock of the present situations and work out strategies for more effectiveness and relevance of KVKs during XI Plan.

He said Gadak in Karnataka, Jhun Jhun in Rajasthan and Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh have been selected as the best KVKs in the country and awards would be given during the function.

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