Assam Agriculture University and ICAR signed MoU for opening KVK in Baksa district

Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat on 5 June 2014 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to open a Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Baksa district of Assam. This will be the 638th Krishi Vigyan Kendra of the country.

The MoU was signed by AK Sikka, Deputy Director General (Agril. Extn.), ICAR and KM Bujarbaruah, Vice-Chancellor, Assam Agricultural University.

The Krishi Vigyan Kendra will promote agricultural and allied sectors in Baksa district that is a geographical area of 2400 square kilometer. For catering to the needs of the farming community of the district, the KVK will be located at village Dhepargaon, Mouza Kaurbha, Goreswar Revenue Circle. The district has 15 Development Blocks and 687 villages.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (Agricultural Science Centers) was established on the recommendation of Education Commission 1964-66. The commission suggested for establishment of specialised institutions to provide vocational education in agriculture and allied fields at pre and post-matriculate levels.

Further in 1973, the ICAR constituted a committee headed by Dr Mohan Singh Mehta of Seva Mandir, Udaipur for working out on a detailed plan for implementing the scheme. The committee submitted its report in 1974.

Following the report, the first KVK was established in Pondicherry on pilot basis under the administrative control of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. After this, the union government gave a nod to ICARs proposal of establishing 18 KVKs during fifth five year plan, which has been increased with time due to regular demand.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. The organisation headquartered at New Delhi was established on 16 July 1929 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 in pursuance of the report of the Royal Commission on Agriculture.

As an organisation it guides and manages research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences across India. With 99 ICAR institutes and 53 agricultural universities in India is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world.