A three days Annual Zonal Workshop of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) under ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Zone 1, Ludhiana will be held at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana from 18-20 September, 2024. Dr. Jatinder Paul Singh Gill, Vice Chancellor revealed that KVKs are playing a pivotal role towards development of the agriculture and allied sectors through demonstration of cutting edge technologies at the farmers' field apart from demo units at the centres. He added that it is important to regularly review the prior work and establish goals for the upcoming year as it will aid in conducting the activities of KVKs as scheduled and as per need.
Dr. Parvender Sheoran, Director, ATARI Zone 1, Ludhiana told that scientists and heads of KVKs of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand under this zone shall be participating in this workshop and share their activities, achievements, and success stories from last year of work. During the program, apart from reviewing the work done by KVKs, the lectures on role and responsibility of Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority, data and database management, etc. will also be arranged to improve the functioning of KVKs. He informed that Dr. Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, Vice Chancellor, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, will grace the occasion as Chief Guest of the Inaugural Session.
Dr. Parkash Singh Brar, Director of Extension Education, Vet Varsity and Organizing Secretary of the workshop emphasized on strengthening the KVKs as these mini universities are acting like bridges between research institutes and farming community. He highlighted that the state of Punjab has a total of 22 KVKs, out of which 18 are under administrative control of PAU, three under Vet Varsity and one at Abohar under ICAR. The discussions during this workshop will help scientists to share their knowledge across boundaries of the state.
