The Cabinet today approved a proposal to continue and strengthen 669 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), 11 Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) and related programmes till 2019-20.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) also gave its approval for providing support to the Directorates of Extension Education (DEEs) of Agricultural Universities (AUs) and establishment of 76 spill over KVKs as already approved under the 12th Five Year Plan, an official statement said.
The financial outlay for the KVK Scheme (including Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture) for 2017-20 shall be Rs 2,824 crore, it added.
KVKs would act as knowledge and resource centre in the field of agriculture in the district and would build models of technology uptake and farmers' empowerment leading to support the government's initiative of doubling farmers' income.
Through KVKs, the government will initiate a Network Project on New Extension Methodologies and Approaches, nutri-sensitive agricultural resources and innovations, programs tilted knowledge systems and Homestead Agriculture Management in Tribal Areas (KSHAMTA) among others.
Rain water harvesting, integrated farming system processing, fish seed production, ICT enabled services, green agriculture and strengthening of soil health program will also be supported, it added.
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