The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Cuttack, a unit of the ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack is serving the farming community through on-farm trials, frontline demonstrations and capacity building programmes for farmers, farmwomen, rural youths and grassroots-level extension functionaries.

To strengthen the KVK, an administrative building was inaugurated by DARE Secretary and ICAR DG Dr Trilochan Mohapatra on Sunday in the presence of ICAR-NRRI Director Dr H Pathak. He appealed to the farmers to take advantage of the available opportunities and adopt scientific practices for achieving the target of doubling farmers’ income by 2020. He suggested that working hand-in-hand of farmer-scientist-extension personnel is needed to achieve the goal.

Agril Extension DDG Dr AK Singh emphasised on the importance of processing and marketing in addition to the technology aspects.

On this occasion, a Kisan Gosthi was arranged where the district heads of agriculture, horticulture, veterinary science, ATMA and representatives from local ICAR Institutes took part to make them aware about different schemes and development programmes being offered for the benefit of farmers. They interacted with farmers to solve their problems.

The chief guest released “Accolade of ‘Padma’: The 1st Rice Variety of ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack” and a technical bulletin “Parasitic infestations and their management in livestock”. Ten Progressive farmers of Cuttack district were also felicitated on the occasion.