SWOT analysis of krishi vigyan kendra: Implications for policy and future directions

The purpose of this study was to identify and rank the SWOT issues of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), a district level farm science centre established by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Government of India. The study was conducted in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh to identify the SWOT issues of RASS-Acharya Ranga Krishi Vigyan Kendra. The perceptions of 180 beneficiaries of the KVK were utilized to identify, rank and describe SWOT issues of KVK using two surveys and the Likert method of summated ratings. In the first survey, critical SWOT issues were listed by the respondents and in the second survey, the SWOT issues were ranked by extension specialists working in the country on a Likert scale from 1 (not important), 2 (somewhat important) and 3 (very important). The assessment of agricultural technologies and their dissemination in the area is the major strength of KVK followed by capacity building of different stakeholders involved in agriculture through various extension efforts, application of ICT tools for faster dissemination of technologies etc. Remote location of KVK, poor soil and water conditions etc were the weaknesses of the KVK. The opportunities for the KVK were scope to promote food processing as the district is horticultural important, establishment of good marketing facilities due to adjacency of the district to two metropolitan cities Chennai and Bangalore etc. Poor investment ability with the farmers to adopt some new technologies, exploitation of farmers by middlemen in marketing and credit facilities etc are the major threats hindering the effective functioning of KVK.