Inaugurating the Annual Zonal conference of Krishi Vigyan Kendras for the Zone IV and V held at the OUAT here on Saturday, Union Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, Dr Trilochan Mohapatra as chief guest said, “Our farmers are facing the problem of plenty.”
Higher agricultural production in many cases has created market inequity and distress to the farmers. In future days, we will have to focus on post harvest and value addition activities. KVK has to develop itself as a ‘one stop shop’ at district level to cater to every need of the farmer, he advised.
Ten backward districts in Odisha have been designated as ‘Aspirational Districts’ and the KVKs will have special programmes for development of agriculture and allied sectors in those area, he added.
Presiding over the function, Vice Chancellor, OUAT Prof S Pasupalak emphasised on a system approach by inclusion of other vocations with crops for doubling farmers’ income.
State Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr Saurabh Garg appreciated the efforts made by the agricultural universities for transfer of agricultural know-how to the farmers’ field.
Director, ICAR-ATARI, Kolakata, Dr SS Singh and Director, ICAR-ATARI, Patna, Dr AK Singh presented the achievements of their respective zones for the year 2017-18.
The Vice-Chancellors of Bihar Agriculture University and West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences and Deans, Extension Education from all agricultural universities of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal joined. Scientists of ICAR institutes and senior scientists and Heads of 122 KVKs from Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Andaman and Nicobar were present.