The CARD-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, sponsored by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India was established at Thelliyoor in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala on 28th March 1995 with the major objective of Transfer of Technology. The Christian Agency for Rural Development (CARD), Tiruvalla, a registered Non-Government Organization (NGO) under the Development Department of Marthoma Syrian Church of Malabar is entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the KVK in the District.
The settings up of KVKs have grown over years with the present policy of the Government being to establish one KVK in every rural district of the country. Thus far 531 KVKs have been established all over the country.
This Kendra proposes to keep up its present zeal and strive even harden to be able to meet the aspirations of the farming community of this district.
The primary role of KVK lies in facilitating the agro technology development, assessment, refinement and adoption through On-Farm testing, Front Line Demonstration and vocational training in crop production and allied enterprises.
The CARD-KVK is having a team of well experienced and highly qualified technical staff members in various disciplines of Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Protection, Agricultural Extension, Home Science, Agricultural Engineering and Animal Husbandry with supporting staff. This team works together in an integrated manner and organizes all the activities related to the mandate of the KVK. It is also having infrastructure facilities of administrative building with conference hall, lecture rooms with teaching aids, demonstration farm, Home Science lab, bio control and spawn production lab, library and a 20 bedded farmers hostel. With these facilities short and long duration training are conducted in various disciplines of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry Agricultural Engineering and Home Science.
KVK is guided by Scientific Advisory committee (SAC). This committee guides the KVK in planning, implementation and evaluation of various activities through periodic review of the progress, identification of priority areas of activities and giving suggestions for efficient functioning and resolving various issues. This committee is constituted with the head of the host institution CARD as Chairman and the Officer in charge of the KVK, the Training Organizer as member Secretary. The Zonal Co-coordinator, The Director (Extension) of Kerala Agricultural University, Representatives from all developmental departments, farmers, farm women are the members.