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Krishi Vigyan Kendra (farm Science Centre) is an innovative science based institutions which was given shape by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) after recommendation of Mehta Committee (1973) with prime mandate to impart vocational training to the farmers and field level extension workers. Accordingly, in the proposal it was recommended to have one Krishi Vigyan
Kendra in every district of Indian Union for effective transfer of technology developed in the laboratory for the field application at farmers' level.

The concept of vocational training in agriculture through KVK grew substantially due to greater demand for improved agricultural technology by the farmers. They not only requires knowledge and understanding of the intricacy of technologies, but also progressively more and more skills in various complex agricultural operations for adoption on their farms. The effectiveness of KVK
was further enhanced by adding the activities related to on farm testing and frontline demonstration on major agricultural technologies in order to make the training of farmers' location specific need based and source oriented.

The training programme s were designed to impart the latest knowledge to the farmers through work experience by applying the principles of "Teaching by Doing" and "Learning by Doing". The prime goal of KVK is to impart training as needs and requirements in agriculture and allied enterprises to all farmers, farm women and farm youths including school drop outs in the rural area for self employment and enhancing the productivity. While designing
the courses, the concept of farming system as well as farming situation are taken into account to ensure that the enterprises in which they are trained are commercially and ecologically viable, sustainable and profitable. Such vocational trainings help them to sustain themselves through self employment and to make them self reliant economically and thus discourages them to migrate to the urban areas.
KVKs provide training not only in agriculture and allied vocations but also other income-generating activities that may supplement the income of farm families. The methods employed in the training could be formal and informal or a combination of both, depending upon the needs and training emphasis remains to be on work experience, as suggested by Dr. Mohan Singh Mehta committee report (1973) i.e. programme should be operated as a plan of continuing education both
in the technical and general sense.

Objective of KVK

o  To demonstrate the new improved technology to the farmers as well as to the extension agencies directly in the farmers' field with their active participation.

o  To identify the area specific problems of the farmers and prioritization of the identified problems as per their importance.

o  To collect feedback from the farmers and the extension agencies and to provide linkages with the scientists for the modification or refinement of the technologies.

o To impart training to the farmers, rural youths and extension functionaries for capacity building.

o To provide new and important information on agriculture and allied sectors to the extension agencies or NGOs for wider circulation to improve their economic condition.

o To prepare different extension models and verify these models in the farmers field with their participation to create confidence among them.

Unique features of KVK

o KVK or the Farm Science Centre is media which takes science from the research system to
the farmers' door after assessment and refinement.

o Agriculture is always considered as a system, which encompasses several allied disciplines.
KVK stands unique in respect to other institutions being working on system approach with its core team or multidisciplinary scientists (working modules of KVK: team or group approach).

o KVK enjoys strong technology support from host institutes and other research stations.

o KVK acts hinge between different developmental agencies or organizations (Privet or Public),
financial institutions, NGOs, Cooperatives and farmers/ farmers group in implementing different developmental activities intended for socio economic upliftment.

o KVK acts as knowledge centre in the rural areas in every facet i.e. addressing /disseminating knowledge on natural resource conservation, climate or ecological changes, agriculture and environment, human diet- health-disease prevention,zoonosis, impact analysis of developed technologies, ICT in agriculture,intelligent purchasing etc.

Role of KVK in changing perspectives of global agricultural scenario

o In the eve of globalization and changing nature agricultural system, KVK will assess and refine different technologies for farmers and assist them to choose the technologies to be adopted in their system.

o Management of the new technologies at farmers' level and providing feedback to the research system for refinement.

o Helps in proper utilization of man made and natural resources.

o Diversification of agricultural system.

o Adoption of need and market based farming system.

o Increasing the risk bearing capacity of farmers by popularizing group or collaborative approaches and integration of farming system.

o Effective forward and backward linkages.

o Protection of farmers' right and educating them about trade and treaties and preparedness required for the change.