Cabinet clears setting up of 121 new Krishi Vigyan Kendras

The union cabinet Wednesday approved setting up of 121 new Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the 12th plan to meet the technological needs of farmers.

An official press release said that the cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval for the establishing and strengthening KVKs at an outlay of Rs.5,739.56 crore.

It said that the government's scheme envisages continuation of 630 KVKs established till the 11th Plan and establishing 121 new KVKs in the 12th plan to carry out its wide range of activities so as to meet the technological needs of farmers.

"This decision will have benefits such as assessment and demonstration of technologies and capacity development of farmers and extension personnel," the release said.

KVKs will work as knowledge and resource centres of agricultural technology in the districts and produce critical quality technology products such as seed, planting material livestock strains and bio-products for availability to farmers.

The scheme also proposes to enhance the number of zonal project directorates to 11 from the existing eight.