Kisan Sarathi

Context:

Government of India launched digital platform Kisan Sarathi

Key Highlights Kisan Sarathi

• The platform Kisan Sarathi was jointly launched by Ministry  of Agriculture and Ministry  Electronics and Information Technology through video conference on the occasion of 93rd ICAR Foundation Day.
• Launched to facilitate farmers to get ‘right information at right time’ in their desired language
• With this digital platform, the farmers can interact and avail personalized advisories on agriculture and allied areas directly from the respective scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs).
• Kisan Sarathi will empower farmers with the technological interventions and reach farmers in remote areas.
• ‘KisanSarathi’ initiative will be highly valuable not only in addressing the location specific information needs of the farmers but also in Agricultural Extension, Education and Research activities of ICAR.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous organization.
• It work under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare , Government of India.
• Formerly known as Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, 
• It 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.
• The ICAR has its headquarters at New Delhi.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra

• Krishi Vigyan Kendras commonly known as KVKs are the agricultural science centres established as innovative institutions for imparting vocational training to the practising farmers, school dropouts and field level extension functionaries.
• Krishi Vigyan Kendra has been in the news as the 11th National Krishi Vigyan Kendra Conference was held in New Delhi in February 2020. 
• Krishi Vigyan Kendras are the centres for agriculture extensions created by Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) and its affiliated institutions at the district level. 
• KVKs are an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) and serve as the link between the NARS and the farmers.
• The KVK centre provides various types of farm support to the agricultural sector and creates awareness about the improved agricultural technologies.
• The first Krishi Vigyan Kendra, on a pilot basis, was established in 1974 at Puducherry (Pondicherry) under the administrative control of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
• KVKs are sanctioned to Agricultural Universities, ICAR institutes, related Government Departments and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) working in Agriculture. Usually, a KVK is associated with a local agricultural university.
• All KVKs fall under the jurisdiction of one of the 11 Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) throughout India.
• These Krishi Vigyaan Kendra are 100% financed by the Government of India and are crucial to fulfilling the target of doubling farmer’s income in near future.

Source: PIB

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