Pawar confers awards to KVKs

Hyderabad, Nov 26 (UNI) Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar presented the National Best 'Krishi Vigyan Kendra'(KVK) awards at the second national conference of KVK at Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural university here today.

KVK Gadag in Karnataka, Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh and Jhun Jhun in Rajasthan received the awards comprising memento and cash prize of Rs one lakh each.

Of the 589 rural districts, sanction for setting up KVKs in 540 districts have already been accorded, he added.

During the present plan, provision of e-linkage in 200 KVKs and soil and water testing facility in 326 KVKs have been made, he said adding that the government would consider extending these facilities to all the KVKs in the country.

As a follow up to the first national conference held in New Delhi last year, a number of initiatives have been taken both for strengthening infrastructure and knowledge empowerment of the KVKs.

To facilitate knowledge empowerment, provision of funds have been made for the Directorate of Extension Education of the Agricultural Universities for Human Resource Development. The CDs of agricultural films have been dubbed in 11 regional languages and the technology bulletins were prepared in local languages, he added.

Mr Pawar released the CDs and publications on technology along with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

Earlier, the Union Minister and the Chief Minister went round the exhibition stalls in which selected ICAR industries, state agricultural Universities and KVKs, among other service providers showcased their latest technologies.

Nearly 1,000 delegates are attending the two-day meet.

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