Role of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in skill development of rural youth in Indian Agriculture

Agriculture in India depends on monsoon and is not considered very profitable business by rural youths. Retention of youths in agriculture is becoming a serious issue. The issue needs immediate attention. Krishi Vigyan Kendra is well known extension body working in approximately each district of India. These KVK's are playing and can play significant role in skill development of rural youths. The learned skills may enable the youths to take agriculture as source of livelihood. The 1st KVK, on a pilot basis, was established in 1974 at Pondicherry. Initially, Krishi Vigyan Kendras were established with basic mandates to conduct only vocational training programmes related to Agriculture and allied sectors for farming community. ICAR has prioritised and revised the mandates as conducting On Farm Testing (OFT's), Front Line Demonstration (FLD), Capacity development of farmers and extension personnel, Work as resource and knowledge centre of agricultural technologies and Providing farm advisories using ICT and other media means, etc. Presently there are 642 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) across the country. Youths constitutes 27.5% of India's population contributing about 34% of India's Gross National Income (GNI). The skill development of rural youth is urgently required for their retention in Agriculture. Seeing the intensity of the problem, Honourable Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi launched ICAR's new scheme ‘ARYA’. “Skill India campaign” is another such kind of programme launched with main goal to create opportunities, space and scope for the development of the talents of the Indian youth. The Scientists working in KVK's are post graduate and are capable of training youths in different enterprises of Agriculture to develop their skills to earn their livelihood in Agriculture and also to assure their retention in agriculture. To achieve the targeted goal of 8 to 9 % growth of Indian economy, we must have to assure the rate of growth in agriculture sector as 4%. And to achieve this goal in Agriculture we must have to make agriculture as profitable business. Although, Krishi Vigyan Kendras are playing significant role in Skill development of Rural Youth they further need to be strengthened to make them more effective. This will not only enable rural youths of the country for betterment of their livelihood but will also ensure the success of ambitious programmes like ARYA and Skill India.