Role of Agricultural Science Centres in Attaining Sustainability in India: A Case Study

The term ‘agricultural sustainability’ gained crucial importance nowadays due to emerging environmental, social, technological, economic as well as institutional problems. The goals of sustainable agriculture can be achieved with the help of agricultural extension and research system. India has a strong network of private as well as public sector agricultural research and extension agencies. Agricultural Science Centres (ASCs) commonly known as Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are one of the prominent public sector agricultural research and extension agencies in India that promote agricultural sustainability at the grassroots level. The role of ASCs in attaining agricultural sustainability in India with special reference to Western Maharashtra is examined in this chapter. For the present study, three ASCs viz. KVK Borgaon, KVK Kanchanpur and KVK Talsande are selected from the Satara, Sangli, and Kolhapur districts of western Maharashtra respectively. The present chapter analyses the activities carried out by selected ASCs and their impact on agricultural sustainability in the western region of Maharashtra. The study found that the activities of ASCs like On-Farm Trials (OFTs), Front-Line Demonstrations (FLDs), soil testing, farmers’ training, and extension programs resulted in promoting agricultural sustainability in the western region of Maharashtra. The interventions of ASCs helped in terms of increasing the knowledge level of farmers about sustainable agricultural practices, scientific orientation, adoption of sustainable farm practices, irrigation intensity, production and productivity of major crops, and livelihood of the farmers. The present study provides a framework to understand the role of ASCs in attainting agricultural sustainability in India in general and Maharashtra in particular.