Annual Workshop of KVKs of Zone-I inaugurated
26.06.2023
Dehradun
ICAR-ATARI Ludhiana and GBPUAT, Pantnagar are jointly organizing three days KVK Workshop 2023 for the 72 KVKs of Punjab, HP, Uttarakhand, J&K, and Ladakh at Uttaranchal University, Dehradun during 26 and 28 June 2023. The workshop is aimed at assessing the progress of the work done by KVKs in the previous year and finalizing the course of action for the next year. Dr. Manmohan Singh Chauhan, Vice-Chancellor, GBPUAT, Pantnagar was the Chief Guest of the inaugural session of this workshop while Dr. Parvinder Kaushal, Vice-Chancellor, VCSG-UUHF, Bharsar was the Guest of Honour and Sh. Jitendra Joshi, Chancellor, Uttaranchal University and Prof. Dharam Buddhi, Vice-Chancellor, Uttaranchal University were the Special Guests.
The Chief Guest Dr. Chauhan, in his inaugural address, shared few experiences from across the world that need to be keenly observed to inculcate best practices in our systems. He expressed his concerns about marketing of the farm produce that needs immediate attention of KVKs to transform agriculture into a sustainable business venture. He stressed on further strengthening of the KVKs to deliver services to the farming community. Finally, he advised the participants to contribute wholeheartedly in the program to bring positive outcomes.
Dr. Parvinder Kaushal emphasized the issues like climate change which are serious threats to the sustainability of agriculture. He appreciated KVKs while citing few examples of different types of work done by the KVKs that are beyond their mandated activities. He pointed out smart phone-based support services and drone technologies to be future of agriculture and asked KVK personnel to get well versed with them. At last, he expressed hope that the KVKs, host institutions and ICAR will work in tandem to take agriculture to new heights.
Prof. Dharam Buddhi shared the vision of Uttaranchal University and appreciated the organizers to opt the University as the venue. He shared experiences of his visits to different centres of excellence of ICAR across the country. He expressed his willingness to collaborate with different KVKs and ICAR institutions to take up new research and development activities for the betterment of society.
Dr. Ranjay Kumar Singh, Assistant Director General (Extension), ICAR, New Delhi, in his address, mentioned about the concerns of DDG (Extension), ICAR for the workshop. He appreciated the work done by the KVKs and urged them to put sincere efforts in improving the state of agriculture in respective districts. He revisited few programs implemented by the KVKs like NICRA and guided personnel to take corrective measures wherever needed. At last, he appealed to the KVK Heads and the officers of host institutes to fill the vacant positions in KVKs immediately and set the course of action in right place for the better future of agriculture.
Dr. Parvender, Director, ICAR-ATARI briefed the house about achievements of KVKs of Zone-I during 2022. He highlighted few success stories from different states or union territories of the Zone. He also raised certain critical issues of the KVKs that need immediate attention by the host institutes. Finally, he appealed all the participants to share feedback and contribute in the program for the progress of KVKs.
Earlier, Dr. A. K. Sharma, Director Extension Education, GBPUAT, Pantnagar formally welcome the Guests and all the participants. At the end, Dr. Arvind Kumar, Principal Scientist, ICAR-ATARI, Ludhiana presented formal vote of thanks.
More than 250 delegates attended the program including Directors of Extension Edtion of (DEEs) and officials of State Agricultural Universities; Scientists and officials of ICAR-ATARI, Ludhiana; Heads and Scientists of the KVKs and officials of Uttaranchal University.
