Mandate & Activity

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The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), ICAR-RCER, Ramgarh (Jharkhand) is attached to ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna and started functioning in July, 2014 with the mandate of technology assessment, refinement and demonstration of technology product. Presently, the KVK is involved in the following activities :

On-farm testing to identify the location specificity of agricultural technologies under various farming systems.
Organize Frontline Demonstrations to establish production potential of technologies on the farmers fields.
Training of farmers. to update their knowledge and skill in modern agricultural technologies.
Training of extension personnel to orient them in the frontier areas of technology development.
To work as resource and knowledge centre of agricultural technology for supporting initiatives of public, private and voluntary sector for improving the agriculture economy of the district.

On the basis of survey reports, it was decided to focus on the following activities :

Skill up gradation, entrepreneurship development and Resource Conservation.
Quality seed production of different cereal, leguminous, oilseed, vegetables, fruits and other crops at farmer�s field.
Popularization of Conservation Agriculture Technologies.
Drudgery reduction and farm mechanization in Agriculture.
Use of ITK for sustainable agriculture.
Establishment of model nursery for production of quality planting material for different horticultural crops.
To train the rural youth for income generation through Mushroom cultivation and lac cultivation.

Since its inception, efforts have been made for development of farm of the KVK. Water harvesting structures have been rejuvenated to ensure the water availability during non-monsoon period. The KVK has three major water harvesting bodies and four numbers of wells. The farms have been developed in to research plots through construction of farm roads and field bunds. KVK also has full fledged demonstration-cum-production units of duck and goat production. A total of 7.2 acre area in the farm has been planted with different fruits, MPTs and timber species for conducting on-farm trials on horticulture and agro-forestry. During the year 2014-15, on-farm demonstrations on off-season cultivation of sponge guard, bitter gourd, cucumber, bottle gourd and watermelon, improved cultivation practices of rice, ragi, arhar, maize, vegetable soybean, turmeric, mustard, chick pea, linseed, wheat, fruit based multitier cropping system, high density orchards of guava and lemon was made. The experts from ICAR-RCER RC - ramgarh also conducted two training programmes on the topics, �Management of newly established fruit orchards� and �Seasonal and off-season cultivation of vegetables� in Gola block.

For prioritization of objectives of the KVK, surveys were undertaken in different parts of the district. Latest method of survey like Agro-Eco System Analysis tools was used for identifying the problems and needs of the farmers. Personal discussions with farmers during their visit to the KVK were also used as a tool for identification of the problems related to agriculture.

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On the basis of surveys and personal discussion, Krishi Vigyan Kendra has found following problems in its operational area:

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S.N.	Problem Area	Major Problems
A	Crop Science	Non-availability of quality seed. Low productivity of major crops and dependency on hybrids seed of paddy. Limited water resources for irrigation. Open grazing by animals is constraint for second crop. Awareness about conservation cultivation technique and harvesting the Kharif moisture for rabi season crop like pulse and oil seed crop. Post harvesting losses and mono cropping. Poor plant protection management and lack of awareness about bio -control and IPM methods. Due to late transplanting and use only urea as fertilizer paddy stem borer and paddy leaf feeder and paddy gall midge are becoming a serious problem. Lack of location specific forecasting and advisory regarding agronomic practices, fertilizer, insect and disease invasion and package of practices. Lack of awareness of new variety of sweet potato, sweet corn, ground nut and chickpea. Due to grow of hybrid rice cultivar bacterial leaf blight and false smut are serious problem.
B	Soil & Water Management	Lack of awareness about use of Urea, DAP and potash fertilizer without recommended doses. Lack of awareness about water use efficiency and conservation method in rainfed area based farming. Lack of Awareness about soil health and soil testing. Lack of awareness about conservation of natural source and planning according to availability for increasing the cropping intensity. Lack of awareness for acidic soil reclamation and lime application.
C	Animal Husbandry	Inadequate descriptive/prolific breed of livestock. Inadequate health care of livestock. Poor feed resources and fodder storage method. Non- availability of quality fish seed. Poor maintenance of fish ponds. Lack of awareness community based animal husbandry like piggery for tribal community, Dairying and poultry surrounding the city and goatary in village for rural youth.
D	Horticulture	Lack of awareness about control of primary infection of disease and pest. Lack of awareness about smart planning of vegetable production regarding market based demand and strategy. Wilting in Tomato, Capsicum, chili and brinjal are serious problem. Lack of awareness about Viruses and micro nutrient deficiency diagnosis is becoming the cost of production increasing issue. Lack of awareness about Poly house, Net House and drip irrigation based vegetable cultivation.
E	Social Issues	Poor health of female and child due to unavailability of balanced diet. Male based decision execution system has created a gap between intervention and adoption. Lack of awareness about ICT and its linkage. Lack of motivational course for rural youth for creation interest regarding profit based hi-tech agriculture. lack of awareness about livelihood option for food and nutritional security. lack of awareness about Judiciously use and conservation mode utilization of natural recourses.
F	Others	Lack of awareness about credit facilities. Lack of farmers group based on interest of tendency. Lack of awareness about orchard, floriculture, mushroom cultivation and lac cultivation. Lack of updated extension machinery for advisory and implementing the scheme. Lack of awareness about progressive farmer group to facilitate to each others. Scattered poor farm holding size and minimum mechanization. Illegal Coal mining engaging rural youth, resulting creating disinterest to agriculture is major challenge. Lack of area based strategy to create interest and make profitable farming for retaining the youth in agriculture. Lack of assessment of climate change on location specific and crop cycle. Lack of awareness about cooperative farming and group farming.