Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)

1. KVK means Farm Science Centre.
2. The KVK concept was developed by Mohan Singh Mehta Committee (1973).
3. KVKs are established by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research).
4. The first KVK was established at Puducherry in 1974.
5. The motto of KVKs is “Technology Assessment and Demonstration for Application and Capacity Building (TADA-CB).”
6. KVKs conduct On-Farm Testing (OFT) and Front Line Demonstrations (FLD).
7. KVKs organize training programmes for farmers, farm women, and rural youth.
8. Each KVK covers one district of the country.
9. KVKs publish district-level annual progress reports for ICAR.
10. Host organizations of KVKs include SAUs, NGOs, ICAR Institutes, and Deemed Universities.
11. KVKs are funded by ICAR, Ministry of Agriculture.
12. FLD is conducted to demonstrate proven technologies on farmers’ fields.
13. OFT identifies location-specific technologies under field conditions.
14. NICRA (National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture) KVKs focus on climate-smart farming.
15. KVKs help in linking research, extension, and farmers.

Communication Networks

1. Formal communication network follows official hierarchy.
2. Informal communication network is called the
3. Wheel network – central leader communicates with all members.
4. Chain network – communication flows from superior to subordinate.
5. Y-network – combines both wheel and chain structure.
6. Circle network – communication flows between adjacent members.
7. Horizontal communication promotes coordination between departments.
8. Lateral communication occurs among individuals at the same level.
9. Effective communication depends on clarity, feedback, and mutual trust.
10. Barriers include language, status, emotions, and noise.
11. Feedback ensures understanding and correction of message.
12. The Shannon-Weaver model (1949) is the classical communication model.

Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) & Rural Development

1. PRA was introduced by Robert Chambers in 1980s.
2. PRA emphasizes people’s participation in planning and decision-making.
3. Key PRA tools: Social map, Resource map, Timeline, Transect walk, and Seasonal calendar.
4. PRA helps in rapid and reliable rural information collection.
5. Transect walk identifies resources, problems, and opportunities.
6. Venn diagram shows institutional relationships in a community.
7. Time line records major historical events of the village.
8. Seasonal calendar shows activities across different seasons.
9. Ranking and scoring help prioritize problems and solutions.
10. PRA encourages bottom-up and learning-by-doing approach.

Leadership & Group Dynamics

1. Leadership is the ability to influence others to achieve goals.
2. Democratic leadership encourages participation and teamwork.
3. Autocratic leadership is authoritarian in nature.
4. Laissez-faire leadership means minimum interference.
5. Situational leadership depends on context and group needs.
6. Opinion leaders are informal leaders influencing decisions in rural areas.
7. Formal leaders hold official positions in organizations.
8. Effective leaders have initiative, empathy, and communication skills.

Rural Society & Development

1. A village is the basic unit of rural society.
2. The primary occupation of rural people is
3. Social institutions include family, marriage, religion, and education.
4. Joint family system is common in rural India.
5. Panchayati Raj System was introduced in 1959 (Balwantrai Mehta Committee, 1957).
6. Three-tier Panchayati Raj system – Village, Block, and District level.
7. 73rd Constitutional Amendment (1992) gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj.
8. Gram Sabha is the foundation of Panchayati Raj system.
9. DRDA (District Rural Development Agency) coordinates rural development programmes.
10. SHGs (Self Help Groups) empower women and rural poor.

Current Schemes & Programmes

1. National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET) launched in
2. Soil Health Card Scheme launched in 2015 to monitor soil fertility.
3. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) launched in
4. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) started in
5. National Food Security Mission (NFSM) launched in
6. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) promotes organic farming.
7. PM-KISAN provides income support to farmers (₹6,000 per year).
8. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) focuses on rural youth employment.
9. National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) – launched in 2011 for poverty alleviation.
10. Atma Nirbhar Krishi emphasizes digital extension and self-reliant farmers.