KATHUA: The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Kathua, part of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Jammu (SKUAST-J), celebrated the Golden Jubilee of KVKs today.
This milestone event was marked by the arrival of the symbolic Golden Jubilee Torch, which was ceremoniously handed over by Dr. Hema Tripathi, Associate Director Extension, SKUAST-J, from KVK Samba to Dr. Vishal Mahajan, Chief Scientist and Head of KVK Kathua.
The event was organized under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof. B. N. Tripathi and the able guidance of Director Extension Prof. Amrish Vaid of SKUAST-J.
The Golden Jubilee celebration, initiated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), features a torch rally that commenced in Ladakh and will culminate at the ICAR-KVK Golden Jubilee Conference 2024 in New Delhi.
Dr. Vishal Mahajan highlighted the significance of the Golden Jubilee, commemorating 50 years of KVKs’ dedicated service to agricultural development. He emphasized that the torch symbolizes the spread of knowledge from KVKs to districts across India.
Reflecting on KVKs’ pivotal role since their inception in 1974, he called for intensified efforts during the ‘Amrit Kaal’ to meet farmers’ evolving needs.
Dr. Mahajan shared that the KVK movement began 50 years ago with the establishment of the first KVK in Pondicherry under Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
Today, there are 731 KVKs across the country, serving as comprehensive support centers for farmers. He noted that KVKs have significantly contributed to increasing food grain production and act as hubs for technology transfer, capacity building, vocational training, skill development, market information, and agribusiness development.
Dr. Vishal Sharma, Scientist at KVK Kathua, also spoke about the crucial role KVKs play in rural transformation, highlighting their impact on improving agricultural practices and livelihoods.
Following the celebrations, the ceremonial torch was handed over to Dr. Narinder Deep Singh, Head of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Pathankot, at Lakhanpur. Dr. Narinder Deep Singh expressed confidence that the torch relay would inspire transformative changes within KVKs, turning them into convergence hubs for Indian agriculture, aligning with the nation’s vision for 2047.
The event was attended by progressive farmers and the staff of both KVKs. The Golden Jubilee Torch will now proceed to Punjab and subsequently to Himachal Pradesh. The program concluded with a vote of thanks by Vijay Singh of KVK Kathua.