**Executive Summary**
This document answers Starred Question No. 226 addressed to the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare regarding Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in Tamil Nadu, to be answered on December 16, 2025. It details the current operational status of KVKs, plans for expansion, infrastructure upgrades, evaluation processes, and initiatives to enhance farmer participation. A statement providing answers to parts (a) through (e) of the question is laid on the Table of the House.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Operational KVKs:**
* There are 31 operational KVKs in Tamil Nadu.
* District-wise details, including the host organization type and year of establishment, are provided in the annexure.
* **Establishment of New KVKs:**
* Five newly created districts (Kanchipuram, Mayiladuthurai, Ranipet, Tirunelveli, and Tirupathur) do not have KVKs.
* The establishment of new KVKs is an ongoing process following prescribed guidelines.
* Thiruvanamalai and Ramnathpuram already have one KVK each.
* **Upgradation of Infrastructure and Capacity Building:**
* Strengthening KVKs is a priority, with continuous efforts to upgrade physical infrastructure.
* During the 2021-26 plan period, KVKs have been strengthened with new buildings, farmer's hostels, demonstration units, and farm machinery.
* 61 training programs were conducted to update the knowledge of Subject Matter Specialists.
* Training covered areas such as digital agriculture, organic farming, plant protection, horticulture, soil health, and livestock technologies.
* **Monitoring and Review:**
* A strong monitoring mechanism exists, including regular reviews at National, Zonal, University, and District levels.
* Reviews are conducted by ICAR, Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Agricultural Universities, and Scientific Advisory Committees.
* Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) and Third-Party Evaluation also periodically assess KVKs.
* The latest review performance of KVKs, including those of Thiruvanamalai and Ramnathpuram districts, was evaluated by QRT in 2020.
* **Evaluation Findings and Dissemination Activities:**
* Each KVK in Tamil Nadu has significantly contributed to technology assessment, demonstrations, and capacity building.
* Most KVKs have around 88% of staff in position and maintain instructional farms.
* They produce quality seeds and planting materials for diverse extension activities.
* Focus is on disseminating high-impact crop varieties, integrated crop management practices, and livestock-based technologies.
* **Financial Support and Women Empowerment:**
* The Central Government, through ICAR, provides 100% financial support to KVKs.
* Between 2021-22 and 2025-26, ₹32640.94 lakh was provided to KVKs in Tamil Nadu.
* Special focus is given to empower women through exclusive training programs.
* KVKs support SHGs, rural women entrepreneurs, and women-led units.
* **Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan:**
* A campaign was organized from May 29 to June 12, 2025, to create awareness regarding modern agricultural technologies.
* The campaign was organized in 31 districts of Tamil Nadu with 7.01 lakh farmers participating, including 3.20 lakh women farmers (45.6%).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** The document outlines ongoing efforts to strengthen KVK infrastructure and capacity through government funding and training programs.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement programs effectively to achieve technological dissemination and capacity building of farmers, including women farmers.
**Stakeholder: Farmers in Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** Farmers benefit from increased access to modern technologies, training, and support for agriculture.
* **Action Required:** Engage in KVK programs and adopt modern agricultural technologies to improve farming practices.
**Stakeholder: Subject Matter Specialists of KVKs in Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** Knowledge of the latest agricultural technologies will be updated through organised programmes.
* **Action Required:** Implement and disseminate this new information, so that they can effectively use modern agriculture technologies.
**Stakeholder: ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research)**
* **Impact:** The Central Government is providing 100% financial support to KVKs in Tamil Nadu through ICAR.
* **Action Required:** Provide financial support for dissemination of technologies and capacity development.
**Stakeholder: Rural Women Entrepreneurs**
* **Impact:** Women are empowered through training and are able to establish women-led units.
* **Action Required:** Engage in and utilise this opportunity to establish these units and enterprises.
**Stakeholder: Government of India (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare)**
* **Impact:** The document demonstrates the government's commitment to supporting agriculture in Tamil Nadu.
* **Action Required:** Continue to monitor the effectiveness of KVKs and adjust programs to meet the evolving needs of farmers.
Key Entities Referenced
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs): Agricultural extension centers playing a key role in technology dissemination and capacity building in Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu: Indian state where the policy regarding Krishi Vigyan Kendras is focused.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The central ministry responsible for the policy and administration of Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): The apex body providing financial support and monitoring of KVKs.
Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan: A campaign to create awareness regarding modern agricultural technologies, organized in Tamil Nadu in 2025.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 226
TO BE ANSWERED ON 16TH DECEMBER, 2025
KRISHI VIGYAN KENDRAS IN TAMIL NADU
*226. SHRI C N ANNADURAI:
SHRI NAVASKANI K:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि और ककसान कल्याण
मंत्री be pleased to state:
(a) the number and details of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) currently operational in Tamil
Nadu, district-wise;
(b) whether the Government proposes to establish any new KVKs in Tamil Nadu, particularly
in Thiruvanamalai, Ramnathpuram and Kanchipuram districts, to strengthen agricultural
research, training and technology dissemination, if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of steps taken for upgradation of infrastructure and capacity building of KVKs
in Tamil Nadu;
(d) whether any evaluation of the performance and outreach of KVKs in Tamil Nadu,
including Thiruvanamalai, Ramnathpuram and Kanchipuram has been carried out and if so, the
key findings thereof; and
(e) the steps being taken by the Government to enhance farmer participation, women’s
involvement and the use of modern technologies in the functioning of KVKs in Thiruvanamalai,
Ramnathpuram, Kanchipuram and nearby districts?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृषि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
********
1STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. 226 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16TH DECEMBER, 2025 REGARDING
“KRISHI VIGYAN KENDRAS IN TAMIL NADU”
(a): In all, 31 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are currently operational in Tamil Nadu.
District wise details of operational KVKs in Tamil Nadu are given in Annexure.
(b): In Tamil Nadu, five newly created districts namely Kanchipuram, Mayiladuthurai,
Ranipet, Tirunelveli and Tirupathur are not having KVK. Opening of KVK in newly created
district is a continuous process as per the prescribed procedure and guidelines. The
districts namely Thiruvananmalai and Ramnathpuram already have one KVK each.
(c): Strengthening of KVKs is a priority and continuous process. Several steps have
been taken for upgradation of infrastructure and capacity building of KVKs in Tamil Nadu.
The Government makes continuous efforts to upgrade the physical infrastructure of the
KVKs. During 2021-26 plan period, the KVKs of Tamil Nadu have been strengthened
with two administrative buildings, two farmers’ hostels, twenty demonstration units and
thirty farm machineries/implements/vehicles. Further, 61 training programmes were
organized to update the knowledge and skills of Subject Matter Specialists of KVKs of
Tamil Nadu on the latest agricultural technologies during the same period. The major
areas covered during these training programmes were digital agriculture, natural/organic
farming, plant protection and pest management, horticulture and precision farming, soil
health, climate change and resilience, livestock and poultry technologies, post-harvest
technology, value addition and processing, etc.
(d): There is a strong mechanism for monitoring and review of KVKs including those of
Tamil Nadu to make vibrant and effective institution of technology transfer at district level.
Monitoring and review of KVKs are done regularly at National, Zonal, University and
District level by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR); Agricultural Technology
Application Research Institute; Agricultural Universities and Scientific Advisory
Committee of each KVK, respectively. The performance and working of KVKs is also
reviewed periodically by Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) and Third Party Evaluation.
The latest review performance of KVKs of Tamil Nadu including those of
Thiruvanamalai and Ramnathpuram districts were evaluated by QRT in the year 2020.
Key findings of the evaluation are summarized below. Each KVK in Tamil Nadu has
contributed significantly to technology assessment, frontline demonstrations, and
capacity building in its respective district. Most of the KVKs have around 88 percent staff
in position and maintained 16-23 ha of instructional farm producing 15001.59 quintals
quality seed of different field crops and 1.55 crore planting materials of horticultural crops,
enabling diverse extension activities. Major focus of KVKs for dissemination had been
high-impact crop varieties (Paddy: CO-R-50, CO 51; Black gram: VBN-6, VBN-8; Finger
millet: ML-365, etc.), integrated crop and nutrient management practices, farm
mechanization, and livestock-based technologies.
2(e): The Central Government, through ICAR, provides 100% financial support to all the
KVKs of Tamil Nadu including KVKs in Tiruvannamalai, and Ramnathpuram to
disseminate modern technologies and capacity development of farmers including women
farmers. During 2021-22 to 2025-26, a total of Rs. 32640.94 lakh was provided to KVKs
in Tamil Nadu by the ICAR.
Further, special focus is given to empower women through exclusive training
programmes in nutrition, food processing and value addition, livestock-based enterprises
and drudgery-reducing technologies. KVKs support SHGs, rural women entrepreneurs,
and establish women-led units such as mushroom cultivation, homestead horticulture,
kitchen gardens and backyard poultry.
Recently, Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan was organized during 29 May-12 June
2025 across the country including Tamil Nadu with the objectives to create awareness
regarding modern agricultural technologies. The campaign was organized in 31 districts
of Tamil Nadu in which a total of 7.01 lakh farmers including 3.20 lakh women farmers
(45.6%) participated.
*******
3Annexure
[PART (a) OF LOK SABHA STARRED Q. NO. 226 DATED 16TH DECEMBER, 2025]
District wise details of KVKs functional in Tamil Nadu
Sl. No District/KVK Type of Host Year of
Organization Establishment
1 Ariyalur NGO 2009
2 Chengalpattu SAU (TANUVAS) 1985
3 Coimbatore NGO 1979
4 Cuddalore SAU (TNAU) 1985
5 Dharmapuri SAU (TNAU) 2006
6 Dindigul DU (GRI) 1989
7 Erode NGO 1992
8 Kallakurichi SAU (TANUVAS) 2018
9 Kanyakumari SAU (TNAU) 2004
10 Karur NGO 2005
11 Krishnagiri NGO 1978
12 Madurai SAU (TNAU) 2004
13 Nagapattinam SAU (TNJFU) 2004
14 Namakkal SAU (TANUVAS) 2004
15 Perambalur NGO 2002
16 Pudukkottai SAU (TNAU) 2004
17 Ramanathapuram SAU (TNAU) 2004
18 Salem SAU (TNAU) 1994
19 Sivagangai SAU (TANUVAS) 1996
20 The Nilgiris SAU (TNAU) 2022
21 Theni NGO 1994
22 Thenkasi NGO 1994
23 Thoothukudi NGO 1996
24 Tiruchirappalli SAU (TNAU) 1977
25 Tirupur SAU (TNAU) 2019
26 Tiruvallur SAU (TNAU) 2004
27 Tiruvannamalai NGO 1991
28 Tiruvarur SAU (TNAU) 2004
29 Vellore SAU (TNAU) 2004
30 Villupuram SAU (TNAU) 2004
31 Virudhunagar SAU (TNAU) 2006
*******
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