India’s push to boost farmers’ skills is gaining momentum, with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) leading the charge in connecting research to real-world farming. These centers offer hands-on training, live demonstrations, and job-focused courses that fit local weather and crop needs. From 2021 to 2024, KVKs reached a whopping 58.02 lakh farmers, as the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare shared in a recent update.
The numbers keep climbing year by year. In 2021-22, they trained 16.91 lakh farmers, jumping to 21.56 lakh by 2023-24. Even in 2024-25, up to February, another 18.56 lakh farmers got the skills they need. This growth shows how KVKs empower farmers with practical know-how in crop care, soil health, livestock management, and related areas. By mixing local insights with cutting-edge science, KVKs turn knowledge into better yields and tougher farms against challenges like climate shifts.
Other programs join the effort to build strong farmer training platforms. The Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) helps states revamp their outreach, reaching about 1.27 crore farmers from 2021 to 2025. ATMA focuses on a farmer-first system, delivering the latest tech and best practices right to the fields.
The Soil Health Card Scheme is another game-changer for smart farming. It guides farmers on crop choices and fertilizer use. By July 24 this year, the government distributed over 25.17 crore soil health cards nationwide. On top of that, they’ve run more than 93,000 training sessions, 6.8 lakh demos, and countless awareness drives. These steps encourage balanced soil nutrients, boosting health and sustainable productivity.
India weaves skill-building into big national plans too. The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), a key skilling program since 2015, now prioritizes agriculture and related fields. From its start until June 30, 2025, it trained over 1.64 crore people and certified 1.29 crore in these areas.
Young farmers get special focus through programs like Skill Training of Rural Youth (STRY). This initiative offers quick, seven-day courses in farming and allied sectors to equip rural youth for new opportunities. Add in efforts from the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) and targeted pushes in horticulture, livestock, soil care, and food processing, and it’s clear: skilling farmers is key to higher productivity, better incomes, and a resilient agriculture sector in India.
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