Krishi Vigyan Kendra of Bhavnagar has initiated its activities in the district from November, 2010. A participatory approach (PRA) is adopted to conduct the bench mark surveys with a view to identify the needs of farming community of the district at grassroot level. Based on the surveys, farming needs, problems, technological gaps and their possible solutions were identified and prioritized. To achieve the desired results area specific objectives and thrust areas are formulated;

Objectives 

To increase production and productivity of the major crops of the district

To promote risk management strategies in farm production to minimize production loss

To increase farm income per unit area

To promote sustainable natural resource management for environmental safety

To promote self-employment among rural youth in agriculture sector

To serve as a frontline extension agency and resource centre for latest agricultural technologies

Thurst areas:

Capacity building of farmers, farm women, rural youth to orient them to the latest technologies

Integrated nutrient, weed, pest & disease management in major crops

Establishment of production potential of newly recommended agricultural technologies

Promotion of climate resilient and innovative technologies, crop diversification and integrated farming system models

Promotion of animal husbandry and allied sector activities to support farm income and risk management

Promotion of eco-friendly agricultural practices to reduce chemical load and cost of cultivation

Promotion of drudgery reduction tools and technologies and farm mechanization

Farm women empowerment through capacity building and income generating activities

Promotion of Agri-entrepreneurship among rural youth for self-employment

To ensure availability of quality farm inputs to farmers from reliable sources

Establishment of convergence among the stake holders working in the same sector and for the same objectives

About Host organization:

Lokbharti Gramvidyapith Trust, the host organization of Krishi Vigyan Kendra – Bhavnagar, founded by the well-known educationist and Ghadhian shri. Nanabhai Bhatt, is a rural vidyapith. With the mission to enlighten a constant flame of education for the deprived people of villages ushering sustainable development in accordance with the Nature and Culture of our country, Lokbharti Gramvidyapith was formally inaugurated at Sanosara village of Bhavnagar district of Gujarat state on “Budhdha Poornima” (28th May, 1953) by the auspicious hands of shri. Kakasaheb Kalelkar. The aims and objectives of Lokbharti emphasize on “Vidya” means the introspective knowledge of the self and “Avidya” means the wisdom and skills that one learns in life, must be taught together in a correlated manner based on practical, productive labour and social living together. The culture is what makes a person truly human. Culture is lying dormant in the lives of the rural people. Lokbharti aims at awakening them to this culture through the fundamental education.

Objectives:

• To prepare local fearless leadership based on productive labour having sound and scientific outlook (perspective) appropriate to Nature and Culture of our Country

• To impart education through participatory approach which can abolish the darkness among the deprived rural people.

• To awaken virtues, values and skills which are lying dormant in the poorest villagers.

• To contribute its best in creating a Sarvodaya Samaj by working on the Gandhian line.

• To conduct experiments in the field of rural higher education through the three-fold function of Teaching, Extension and Research.

• To impart the students the practical experiences of life and society.

• To prepare organized community based on cooperation, peoples’ participation, harmony and traditional knowledge.

 Thus, Lokbharti aims to develop in students a lifelong interest in rural development, responsible citizenship and scientific approach with natural living.

About ICAR -ATARI (Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute):

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has established 11 Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) across the country for monitoring, reviewing and coordinating the KVK system. Agricultural Extension Division, one of the eight divisions of ICAR, New Delhi has established strong network of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (731 KVKs) all over the country. The division is headed by Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension) and supported by two Assistant Directors Generals, four Principal/Senior Scientists, two Directors and one Under Secretary monitor and review the progress of KVKs through ATARIs. Earlier, there were eight ATARIs (Ludhiana, Kolkata, Barapani, Kanpur, Hyderabad, Jodhpur, Jabalpur and Bengaluru). Considering more number of KVKs and intricate monitoring/coordination mechanism, three additional ATARIs (Pune, Guwahati and Patna) were established in 2015 for effective monitoring, coordinating and reviewing the KVKs and started functioning from 2017. If you look in the history of ATARI, it was born as Zonal Coordination Unit in 1979 at 8 locations to monitor transfer of technology projects. The Zonal Coordination Unit was upgraded as Zonal Project Directorate (ZPD) in 2009. Again, it was upgraded as Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI) in 2015.