Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), meaning Agricultural Science Centre, is India’s district-level frontline agricultural extension institution. While it is a well-known institution, no single page consolidates its history, mandate, 731 KVKs list, ATARI zones, host-wise distribution, services, achievements till 2025, how to find your nearest KVK, and official contact/helpline in one place – until now.
This guide is compiled from ICAR official (icar.gov.in), Vikaspedia, PIB (22 July 2022), Wikipedia, KVK Portal (kvk.icar.gov.in), and ATARI reports.
KVK Wiki / Quick Info Table
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Krishi Vigyan Kendra |
| Translation | Agricultural Science Centre |
| Type | Govt Body – District-level Farm Science Centre, Frontline Extension Institution |
| Parent Organization | Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Dept of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare |
| Idea Originated From | Education Commission (1964-66) recommended Agricultural Polytechnics for vocational agri-education |
| Committee | ICAR committee headed by Dr. Mohan Singh Mehta of Seva Mandir, Udaipur (Rajasthan) constituted in 1973, report submitted in 1974 1 |
| First KVK Established | 21 March 1974 at Puducherry (Pondicherry) under Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore 1 |
| Golden Jubilee | Celebrated 50 years on 21 March 2024 – transformed from training institute to Single Window Agricultural Knowledge, Resource and Capacity Development Centre 2 |
| Total KVKs (as of May 2025) | 731 KVKs covering 638 rural districts 3 |
| Funding | 100% financed by Govt of India via ICAR 4 |
| NARS Role | Integral part of National Agricultural Research System (NARS) – bridge between lab and farmland |
| Monitoring | 11 Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) at zonal level |
| Mandate | Technology Assessment and Demonstration for its Application and Capacity Development 1 |
| Official Portals | https://icar.gov.in, https://kvk.icar.gov.in, https://kvk.icar.gov.in (KVK Portal for advisories) |
| Helpline | Kisan Call Center Toll-Free 1800-180-1551 (6 AM-10 PM), PM-Kisan Helpline 155261 / 1800-115-526, Individual KVK phone (see directory) |
| Coverage per KVK | ~43 villages & 4,300 farmers, ~80% villages within 10 km, ~96% farmer queries addressed (NILERD-2015 study) 5 |
History of KVKs – How It Started
- 1964-66: Education Commission recommended vigorous effort to establish specialized institutions for vocational education in agriculture at pre and post-matriculate levels for rural boys/girls – to be named Agricultural Polytechnics.
- 1966-72: Thorough discussion among Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Planning Commission, ICAR.
- 1973: ICAR mooted idea of Krishi Vigyan Kendras as innovative institutions for vocational training to practicing farmers, school dropouts, field-level extension functionaries. ICAR Standing Committee on Agricultural Education observed KVKs of national importance.
- 1973: Committee headed by Dr. Mohan Singh Mehta constituted to work out detailed plan.
- 1974: Committee submitted report. First KVK on pilot basis established in 1974 at Puducherry under TNAU Coimbatore 1.
- 1977 onwards: Second wave – e.g., KVK Randheja, Gandhinagar established Sep 1977 under Gujarat Vidyapith.
- 2024: Golden Jubilee – DDG (Agricultural Extension) ICAR Dr. Udam Singh Gautham stated KVKs transformed from mere training institute to Single Window Centre 2.
Host Institution-wise Distribution – Who Runs KVKs?
As per PIB Rajya Sabha reply 22 July 2022 and ICAR May 2026 data 67:
| Host Organization | No. of KVKs (2022) | No. as per ICAR Portal 2020 (728 total) |
|---|---|---|
| State Agricultural Universities (SAU) | 506 | 500 / 487 |
| ICAR Institutes | 66 | 71 / 67 |
| NGOs | 103 | 100 |
| State Governments | 38 | 37 |
| Central Agricultural Universities | 3 | 22 (increased) |
| Deemed to be Universities | 7 | – |
| Central Universities | 3 | – |
| Public Sector Undertakings | 3 | 2 |
| Other Educational Institutions | 5 | 20 |
| Total | 731 | 728-731 |
As of May 2025, Wikipedia says approx 731 KVKs: 458 under SAUs, 18 under CAUs, 64 under ICAR, 105 under NGOs, 39 under state departments, 16 miscellaneous 3 – slight variation due to new approvals.
State-wise List of KVKs (731 Total) – PIB 22 July 2022 6
| State/UT | KVKs | State/UT | KVKs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andaman & Nicobar | 3 | Lakshadweep | 1 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 24 | Madhya Pradesh | 54 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 17 | Maharashtra | 50 |
| Assam | 26 | Manipur | 9 |
| Bihar | 44 | Meghalaya | 7 |
| Chhattisgarh | 28 | Mizoram | 8 |
| Delhi | 1 | Nagaland | 11 |
| Goa | 2 | Odisha | 33 |
| Gujarat | 30 | Puducherry | 3 |
| Haryana | 18 | Punjab | 22 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 13 | Rajasthan | 47 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 20 | Sikkim | 4 |
| Jharkhand | 24 | Tamil Nadu | 32 |
| Karnataka | 33 | Telangana | 16 |
| Kerala | 14 | Tripura | 8 |
| Ladakh | 4 | Uttar Pradesh | 89 (Highest) |
| – | – | Uttarakhand | 13 |
| – | – | West Bengal | 23 |
| Total | – | – | 731 |
ATARI Zones – 11 Zones Monitoring KVKs:
- Zone I – Ludhiana: J&K 20, Ladakh 4, Punjab 22, Uttarakhand 13, HP 13 = 72 KVKs
- Zone II – Jodhpur: Delhi 1, Haryana 18, Rajasthan 47 = 66 KVKs
- Zone III – Kanpur: UP 89 = 89 KVKs
- Zone IV – Patna: Jharkhand 24, Bihar 44 = 68 KVKs
- Zone V – Kolkata: A&N 3, Odisha 33, WB 23 = 59 KVKs
- Zone VI – Guwahati: Assam 26, Arunachal 17, Sikkim 4 = 47 KVKs
- Zone VII – Barapani: Manipur 9, Tripura 8, Nagaland 11, Mizoram 8, Meghalaya 7 = 43 KVKs
- Zone VIII – Pune: Maharashtra 50, Gujarat 30, Goa 2 = 81 KVKs (some counts 82)
- Zone IX – Jabalpur: Chhattisgarh 28, MP 54 = 82 KVKs
- Zone X – Hyderabad: TN 33, Puducherry 3, AP 24, Telangana 16 = 76 KVKs
- Zone XI – Bengaluru: Karnataka 33, Kerala 14, Lakshadweep 1 = 48 KVKs 8
Mandate & Functions of KVK – What They Do?
Mandate (Official): Technology Assessment and Demonstration for its Application and Capacity Development 1.
5 Core Activities:
- On-Farm Testing (OFT): Assess location specificity of agricultural technologies under various farming systems – e.g., new variety vs local variety in farmer’s field
- Frontline Demonstrations (FLD): Establish production potential of technologies on farmers’ fields – e.g., pulse demonstration, oilseed demonstration
- Capacity Development: Training of farmers and extension personnel to update knowledge/skills on modern agri-technologies – short and long-term vocational courses with emphasis on “learning by doing”
- Knowledge & Resource Centre: Work as Knowledge and Resource Centre of agricultural technologies for supporting public, private, voluntary sectors in improving agricultural economy of district
- Farm Advisories via ICT: Provide farm advisories using ICT and other media means – SMS, Kisan Sarathi portal, WhatsApp groups, radio
Additional Functions:
- Production of quality technological products – seed, planting material, bio-agents, livestock, bio-fertilizers and make available to farmers
- Organize frontline extension activities – field days, kisan melas, kisan gosthis, method demonstrations
- Identify and document selected farm innovations, farmer producer organizations (FPOs)
- Soil testing services – Soil Health Card support, water testing
- Convergence with ongoing schemes – PKVY, PDMC, SHC, PM-KISAN, PMFBY, Natural Farming, etc.
- Entrepreneurship development – agri-business, value addition, marketing, small-scale enterprises
- Climate-resilient practices – integrated pest management, water conservation, crop residue management, natural farming
Significant Achievements (Till 2024-25) – ICAR 5
- Farmer Engagement Growth: From 1% in 2003-04 to 18.8% in 2024-25
- Technology Assessment: 1.84 lakh assessment trials of technologies in farmers’ fields + 12.12 lakh demonstrations on crops, livestock, fisheries, farm machinery in last 5 years 6
- Agro-advisories: Through Kisan Sarathi portal, 2.75 crore registered farmers, ~4.2 crore advisories sent annually 5
- Seed Hubs: 95 seed hubs established in KVKs to boost quality seeds of major pulse crops
- Crop Residue Management: Stubble burning reduced ~86% in 2025 vs 2020, Punjab decline ~94% – due to KVK promotion of Happy Seeder, Super Seeder, etc.
- Cluster FLDs: Boosted pulses and oilseeds production
- Natural Farming, FPOs, Skill Development: Promoting natural farming, FPOs, skill development for youth and women – strengthening livelihoods
- Impact Study (NILERD-2015): Each KVK covers ~43 villages & 4,300 farmers, ~80% villages within 10 km, ~96% farmer queries addressed, 42% technologies increased productivity, 33% income, 20% reduced drudgery 5
Services Offered by Your Nearest KVK – For Farmers
- Free Training: On crop production, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, agro-forestry, home science, organic farming, beekeeping, mushroom cultivation
- Diagnostic Visits: Scientist visits farmer field on call for pest/disease diagnosis
- Soil & Water Testing: Soil Health Card testing, water quality testing (often free or nominal Rs 5-20)
- Seed & Planting Material: Quality seeds of HYV, saplings, chicks, fingerlings, bio-agents at subsidized rates
- Mobile Advisory: SMS / WhatsApp advisory on weather, pest outbreak, market price via Kisan Sarathi, mKisan portal
- Demonstrations: Frontline demonstrations at your field with free inputs for trial
- Custom Hiring Centre: Farm machinery on rent – tractor, rotavator, Happy Seeder, etc.
- Help in Schemes: Helps apply for PKVY, PDMC, SHC, PM-KISAN, PMFBY, MOVCDNER, NLM, etc.
- Entrepreneurship: Training for agri-clinics, agri-business centres, value addition
How to Find Your Nearest KVK & Contact?
1. KVK Portal – Official (Best Method)
- Portal: https://kvk.icar.gov.in – Click “Locate your nearest KVK” / Search by State/District 1
- Aim: Transfer technologies via web/mobile + monitor KVK activities 1
- Objectives: Monitor resource utilization, create database of programs, resolve farmer queries via web/mobile, provide weather/market info 1
2. ICAR KVK Directory
- ICAR Page: https://icar.gov.in/en/krishi-vigyan-kendras-kvks – state-wise ATARI zone list 8
- Telephone Directory: Vikaspedia links KVK Telephone Directory PDF
3. Example KVK Contact (for format)
KVK Ahmednagar (PIRENS), Babhaleshwar, Tal. Rahata, Dist. Ahmednagar – Maharashtra
Phone: 02422-252414, 253612, Telefax: 02422-253536, Email: kvkahmednagar@yahoo.com, Time: 09:00-17:00, Sunday Closed 9
Every KVK has similar contact – search “KVK [your district] contact number” on kvk.icar.gov.in.
4. National Helplines (If you can’t reach KVK)
- Kisan Call Center (Toll-Free, 22 Languages): 1800-180-1551 – 6 AM to 10 PM, connects to agriculture graduates 10
- PM-KISAN Helpline: 155261 / 1800-115-526 (Toll-Free) 10
- ICAR HQ: Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Bhavan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi – 110001, Website: icar.gov.in
- ATARI Addresses: 11 ATARIs at Ludhiana, Jodhpur, Kanpur, Patna, Kolkata, Guwahati, Barapani, Pune, Jabalpur, Hyderabad, Bengaluru – contact via ICAR site
How to Avail KVK Services – Step-by-Step
- Find your KVK on kvk.icar.gov.in by district
- Call or Visit – Most KVKs open 9:30 AM to 5 PM, Mon-Sat. No appointment needed for training info.
- Register as Farmer on KVK portal / Kisan Sarathi portal – get advisories via SMS
- Attend Training: Free – KVKs organize 100+ trainings per year. Check monthly training calendar on KVK notice board / portal
- Request OFT/FLD: If you want new technology tested on your field, meet SMS (Subject Matter Specialist) – Agronomy, Horticulture, Animal Science, etc.
- Soil Sample: Bring 500g soil sample for testing – get SHC in 15-30 days
- Follow Advisory: Implement recommended practices, give feedback – KVK collects feedback for research
FAQs – KVKs
Q. How many KVKs in India?
731 KVKs as of May 2025 covering 638 districts 3. Initially 721 as of July 2020, now 731.
Q. Are KVK services free?
Training, advisory, diagnostic visits, field days are free. Soil testing, seed, planting material at nominal/subsidized rates. No fee for asking query.
Q. Who funds KVKs?
100% financed by Govt of India via ICAR 4.
Q. Can KVK help in organic farming / natural farming?
Yes – KVKs are nodal for PKVY, MOVCDNER, BPKP/NMNF training, PGS certification, Jaivik Kheti linkage, and provide technology for Jeevamrut, Beejamrut.
Q. How to get KVK job / training?
KVKs offer vocational training for rural youth (18-35) – beekeeping, mushroom, nursery, dairy, poultry. Contact your KVK for skill development courses under ARYA, Skill India.
Why KVKs Matter in 2026
- Single window for lab to land – research to farmer in local language
- Key to doubling farmers’ income, natural farming, climate-resilient agriculture
- Convergence point for all central schemes – PM-KISAN, PMFBY, SHC, PKVY, PDMC, RKVY
- High search intent: “KVK near me contact number”, “Krishi Vigyan Kendra training”, “KVK soil testing” – evergreen queries from farmers, students, agri-entrepreneurs
Sources: Vikaspedia history & mandate 1, Krishak Jagat Golden Jubilee 2, Wikipedia total KVKs 3, Drishti IAS 100% funding 4, ICAR objectives & achievements 5, PIB state-wise list 731 6, ICAR host-wise distribution 7, ICAR ATARI zones 8, KVK Ahmednagar contact example 9, Farmer.in helpline 10.
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