Infrastructure Facilities

            Infrastructural facilities are a prerequisite to carry out the multifarious activities in the KVK.  Emphasizing this, the KVK has given major thrust to develop the infrastructure facilities.  Administrative block, hostel and staff quarters are the three basic facilities developed in view of the present as well as future needs.  In administrative block each department has been given sufficient area for their activities.  Two lecture halls, one conference hall and one auditorium with 300 seating capacity are being utilized as per needs and requirements of participants. One library for the farmers and laboratory as per the needs of the department were also developed.  

The administrative building has been expanded two times and the total area of this block is 10,500 sq.ft.  Hostel facilities including lodging and boarding have been developed for 60 participants.  On an average 60 to 70 per cent utilization of the hostel facilities due to various on campus training programmes is observed.  Hostel facility was also expanded due to demand and need of the programmes.  Total area of the hostel is 6000 sq.ft.

            Staff quarters were constructed in the KVK campus, which provides facility for 14 staff members.  Due to this facility, KVK could use the time of the staff very efficiently.  Availability of the school nearby to campus, besides other required facilities and easy approach, staff could stay in the campus and extends maximum services to the KVK.  Total area of the staff quarters is 5750 sq.ft.

            In view of the additional activities of the KVK and future plans, KVK is developing a Center for Biotechnology and Information Technology.  In this center bioagents production, quality testing, certification will be carried out.  In the Information Technology Center, all the facilities regarding the information communication technology will be developed like e-library and IT Center for farmers, exhibition center, conference hall and other activities required for faster communication of the technology.  This center is being constructed on 14,000 sq.ft. area and will start functioning in May, 2008.

            KVK has developed all these facilities separately as a KVK campus.  These facilities are only utilized exclusively for the activities related to agriculture and allied sectors.  This has helped to conduct the maximum activities and programmes on regular basis.  Similarly the beneficiaries participating in the different programmes are getting the maximum satisfaction resulting in good impact of the KVK programmes.

Infrastructure Developed by KVK Other Than ICAR Funds

Instructional Units

After inception of KVK, it was observed that important agricultural technologies were not properly and intensively adopted due to lack of skill as well untimely availability of the required inputs and services. Similarly unemployment was a major problem faced by the farming community of the district.  Imparting skill to the farmers of the district for increasing the adoption of eco-friendly agricultural technologies was an important concept identified by the KVK. The KVK decided to develop various instructional units in the campus in order to impart the skill as well as generate self-employment for the rural youths. Some units were also developed to provide on job training coupled with the inputs and services. The development of instructional and production units has helped to conduct maximum vocational courses apart from providing maximum inputs and services to the farmers.

Nursery Unit - After establishment of the nursery by KVK, five vocational skill oriented trainings were organized for 138 beneficiaries. Out of all these trainees 10 trainees have started production of quality seedlings of fruit crops and ornamental and 25 trainees have entered into consultancy of landscaping and gardening.  Their average income is Rs. 50,000 to 75,000 per year.  The KVK could generate 5062 mandays of employment through this instructional unit.

Broiler Poultry Unit – The KVK has established a broiler poultry unit to conduct long duration skill oriented training programmes for the farmwomen and rural youth.  For this purpose, a low cost housing for poultry was constructed to accommodate 2000 birds.  Six sheds were constructed with the local available material like sugarcane trash and bamboo.

  The simple and low cost structure at the KVK have helped to convince the trainees to start the poultry with minimum investments.  For practical purposes, a group of 4 to 5 students are given one shed for rearing of birds so that they learn the skills on job.  Similarly market linkages were developed by KVK for fresh chicken, which also provides a practical foresight to the trainees to anticipate market demands.

Total 39 training courses have been conducted through this instructional unit in which 914 beneficiaries participated. Total 72 trainees got self-employed and have generated 12960 mandays through this unit.

Mushroom Production Unit -Total 13 training courses were conducted for 442 beneficiaries and 15 – 20 per cent of trainees have started their own units. Three trainees have started consultancy, two trainees have started marketing of fresh and dried mushroom.  The entrepreneurs are earning an annual income of  Rs. 48,000 to 55,000 out of mushroom production. A total of 7200 man-days of employment have been generated by the KVK through this unit

Bio-pesticide and Bio-fertilizer Production Units - Out of 130 trainees trained, from these units, five trainees have started their own production units and 20 trainees have got self-employed by starting the agro service centers for supply of eco-friendly inputs.  The KVK has generated 10000 mandays through both of these units.  Providing on job training on use of bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers has helped in acquiring the skill among the vegetable and fruit crop growers and reduce the cost of production. 

Vermicompost Production Unit - The crop residue is available in bulk due to which vermicompost production is one of the low cost self-employment options available in the villages. KVK took initiation and started the vermicompost demonstration unit at KVK farm in year 2000-2001 and designed two days skill imparting training programme. Training included vermicompost and vermiwash production technique, harvesting, packing, and marketing and project preparation. Ten courses were conducted benefiting 240 trainees.    Total 200 vermicompost and vermiwash production units were established and earning of Rs.3500-4500 per month has started that has provided employment for additional 2-3 persons in each unit.

            One of the trainees, Shri Sahebrao Ganpat Bhand from Dadh village has started a large-scale vermicompost, vermiwash and vermiculture production unit. He is already selling 50-60 tons vermicompost, 500-600 lit vermiwash and 100-125 kg vermiculture per year with this unit and earning Rs.7000-8000 income per month and further providing employment for 5 family members. He has supplied vermiculture to five neighboring districts. He has also planned to export the vermicompost to Malaysia.   Now he is working as Master Trainer and helped to establish over 200 vermicompost units under his supervision.  

Food Processing and Bakery Unit- Total 11 trainings were conducted for 204 beneficiaries and out of them 37 trainees have got the employment.  Total 9900 man-days of employment were generated annually.  One SHG has started the multiline processing unit of fruits and vegetables.

Hatchery Unit - The availability of RIR and Giriraja chicks for backyard poultry was a problem for the farmers. Hence the KVK started a chick production unit by purchasing an incubator.  Total 10956 chicks of Giriraja and RIR have been supplied to 250 beneficiaries.  This has helped for wide spread use of the improved poultry breeds among the farmers as an allied enterprise.

Spirulina Production Unit- Total 11 training courses on Spirulina production for 278 beneficiaries were conducted.  This has helped to generate employment for 38 trainees.  It has resulted in creating awareness in rural people regarding health and nutrition. With the help of this instructional unit, the KVK could introduce protein and vitamin rich bio-food in the ethnic diet of community in the district. It has helped in providing effective and long term solution for the anemic, diabetic and heart patients.

Sheep Unit- The KVK started a sheep unit to impart the skill for shepherds about medication and vaccination in sheep rearing as well as for extending support to the subsistence farming by adopting an integrated farming system approach through sheep rearing among the farmers.