Empowering Rural Community with Improvement in Knowledge Level and Livelihood through KVKs: Impact and Cases

This study provides strategies for empowerment of rural community in India and the role of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs, Visakhapatnam District) leading rural Human Resources development. KVK has identified nearby villages in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh for accomplishing this task. The Percentage change in Income level of the different trainees was checked before and after trainings. The evaluation proforma of 10 questions were prepared and given to check the difference in knowledge and income level. Backyard Poultry Training proved that there is about 86% gain in knowledge among the poultry farmers. The beneficiaries got hands on experience during the training program and started Backyard poultry in their respective villages. 63.4% of trainees got the improvement in knowledge level of the Food Processing Training. It was found that almost 58.55% increase in the knowledge and work efficiency of the rural youth in Gardening training which was sufficient for starting own business. There is good demand in Backyard Poultry for the eggs from the improved breeds like Vanaraja, Giriraja and Gramapriya breeds. On an average the farmers are getting 170 eggs annually and 5 kgs of meat from each bird giving an additional income Rs.2500. From a batch of 20-25 birds each family is getting an additional income of Rs.1000 per month. The back yard poultry has given a boost to rural women and giving supplementary income and additional employment especially to rural house wives. Since the Backyard poultry program is found to economically viable and technically feasible to be handled at village level, the study reveals that on an average there is 127.70% increase in income. This implies that there is 100% increase in Annual income among the rural community. This indicates good scope to establish units for sustained livelihood in rural areas through backyard poultry. A Study of Impact on Food Processing Training conducted by BCT- Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Visakhapatnam District during the period from 2011-2013 was a total of 208 trainees were trained out of which, (38.5%) were self employed, (3.8%) were employed in local companies and (57.7%) were unemployed youth within the trainees. In Gardening Training it was found that average income of the trainee was increased by 2.55 times due to real practical experience given at KVK, which resulted in building the trust in rural youth for this sector