Admin Buidling
The Administrative Building of Krishi Vigyan Kendra Latur serves as the central hub for planning, coordination, training, extension, and technology dissemination activities. The building is designed to facilitate effective interaction among scientists, farmers, rural youth, extension personnel, and other stakeholders involved in agricultural development.
Major Facilities Available
- Administrative offices for scientific and technical staff.
- Senior Scientist & Head office.
- Conference and meeting hall for official meetings and Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) meetings.
- Well-equipped training hall with LCD projector, audio-visual aids, internet connectivity, and seating facilities.
- Soil, Water and Plant Testing Laboratory for scientific analysis and recommendations.
- Wi-Fi and internet-enabled facilities for digital learning and communication.
- Documentation and publication unit for preparation of extension literature.
- Display area showcasing improved technologies, farm machinery, publications, and success stories.
Bio-Control Laboratory
Produces and supplies bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides to farmers on a no-profit, no-loss basis for promoting sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture.
Farm :
KVK Latur has a 50-acre instructional farm used for demonstration of improved agricultural technologies, on-farm trials, and applied research. The main purpose of the farm is to demonstrate the latest agricultural practices. The farm includes horticultural crops such as mango, guava , custard apple along with field crops like soybean, Jowar, sugarcane, and vegetables
Farmers’ Hostel
KVK Latur provides a non-AC Farmers’ Hostel with a capacity of 30 participants, along with mess facilities serving hygienic Indian food for trainees, farmers, and visitors attending various programmes.
Implements
This Krishi Vigyan Kendra has several tractor drawn as well as bullock drawn farm implements. The KVK provides these implements to farmers on custom hire basis.
Nursery
The KVK has a government recognized nursery over 0.40 ha area. Farmers can purchase grafts of Mango etc. This Nursery is recognized by government & is also funded under National Horticulture Mission. This nursery has got 2 star rating from NHM in its accreditation.
Azolla Demonstration Unit
The Azolla Demonstration Unit at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) promotes the cultivation and use of Azolla as a low-cost, protein-rich feed supplement for livestock and poultry. The unit serves as a center for demonstration, training, and supply of quality Azolla culture to farmers.
Major Activities
- Demonstration of scientific Azolla cultivation and management.
- Training programmes for farmers, rural youth, and livestock entrepreneurs.
- Production and distribution of Azolla starter culture.
- Technical guidance on establishing Azolla production units.
- Demonstration of Azolla feeding to dairy animals, goats, and poultry maintained at KVK.
Benefits of Azolla
- Rich source of protein, vitamins, and minerals.
- Reduces feed costs.
- Improves animal growth and productivity.
- Suitable for dairy animals, goats, poultry, and other livestock.
- Easy to cultivate with low investment and limited space.
The unit helps farmers adopt sustainable livestock feeding practices and promotes integrated farming systems for improved farm income and profitability.
Goat Farm Demonstration Unit – KVK
The Goat Farm Demonstration Unit at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) serves as a practical learning center for farmers, rural youth, entrepreneurs, and students. The unit demonstrates scientific goat rearing practices, breed improvement, feeding, health care, housing, breeding management, and profitable goat farming models suitable for semi-arid regions of Maharashtra.
The primary objectives of the unit are:
- Demonstration of scientific goat farming practices.
- Conservation and promotion of indigenous goat breeds.
- Production of quality breeding stock for farmers.
- Capacity building through training, demonstrations, and exposure visits.
- Promotion of sustainable livelihood and income generation through goat farming.
Osmanabadi goat breed
The Osmanabadi goat is one of the most important indigenous goat breeds of India, originating from the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, particularly the districts of Osmanabad, Latur, and adjoining areas. It is well adapted to the semi-arid climate and is highly preferred by farmers due to its hardiness and meat production potential.
Key Characteristics
- Medium to large body size.
- Predominantly black coat color, though brown and spotted animals are also found.
- Long pendulous ears.
- Strong disease resistance and adaptability to harsh climatic conditions.
- Suitable for both grazing and semi-intensive farming systems.
Production Performance
- Adult male weight: 40–50 kg.
- Adult female weight: 25–35 kg.
- Good reproductive efficiency with frequent twinning.
- Produces quality meat with high market demand.
- Moderate milk production sufficient for kid rearing.
Importance of Osmanabadi Goat
- Native breed well adapted to Maharashtra conditions.
- Lower maintenance cost.
- Better resistance to diseases and drought conditions.
- High market demand for meat.
- Suitable for small and marginal farmers.
- Important source of rural livelihood and income generation.
Boer Goat Breed
The Boer goat is a world-renowned meat goat breed originating from South Africa. It is recognized for its rapid growth rate, excellent muscling, and superior meat production characteristics. Boer goats are widely used for crossbreeding programs to improve meat yield in local goat populations.
Key Characteristics
- Large and muscular body.
- White body with a characteristic brown or red head.
- Long drooping ears.
- Fast growth and excellent feed conversion efficiency.
- Good mothering ability and reproductive performance.
Production Performance
- Adult bucks may exceed 90 kg body weight under good management.
- Rapid weight gain in growing kids.
- Excellent carcass quality and dressing percentage.
- Highly preferred for commercial meat production.
Importance of Boer Goat
- Superior meat-producing breed.
- Faster growth compared to many indigenous breeds.
- Ideal for commercial goat farming.
- Frequently used for crossbreeding with Osmanabadi and other local breeds.
- Enhances body weight, growth rate, and market value of offspring.
Services Offered by the Goat Demonstration Unit
- Farmer trainings on scientific goat farming.
- Demonstrations on feeding and housing management.
- Health care, vaccination, and deworming advisories.
- Breed improvement and breeding management guidance.
- Exposure visits for farmers, students, and entrepreneurs.
- Supply of technical information and advisory services.
“Goat farming is a sustainable enterprise that provides employment, nutritional security, and regular income to rural households. The Goat Demonstration Unit at KVK showcases scientific technologies for enhancing productivity and profitability in goat farming.”
Poultry Demonstration Unit – KVK
Introduction
The Poultry Demonstration Unit at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) serves as a centre for showcasing improved backyard poultry technologies for rural livelihood enhancement, nutritional security, and women empowerment. The unit provides practical demonstrations on scientific poultry management, breeding, brooding, feeding, health care, and chick production.
The unit consists of:
- Parent Bird Unit
- Hatchery Unit
- Brooding Unit
- Indigenous Poultry Bird Unit
- Demonstration and Training Facility
The primary objective of the unit is to produce and distribute quality chicks of improved poultry breeds to farmers and promote backyard poultry farming as a sustainable income-generating enterprise.
Parent Bird Unit
The Parent Bird Unit maintains superior breeding stock of improved poultry breeds for the production of fertile eggs and quality chicks.
Breeds Maintained
Shrinidhi
Shrinidhi Poultry Breed
Shrinidhi is an improved dual-purpose poultry breed suitable for backyard farming. It is known for higher egg production, good body weight gain, and adaptability under rural conditions.
Key Features
- Higher egg production than local birds.
- Good meat quality.
- Excellent scavenging ability.
- Suitable for free-range and backyard systems.
- Adapted to village conditions.
Kadaknath
Kadaknath Chicken
Kadaknath is a famous indigenous breed known for its distinctive black-colored meat, skin, and bones. It is highly valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties.
Key Features
- Black meat with high market demand.
- Rich in protein and low in fat.
- Disease-resistant and hardy.
- Premium market price.
- Suitable for backyard and niche poultry farming.
Nicobari
Nicobari Chicken
Nicobari is a well-known indigenous poultry breed recognized for its good egg production and adaptability under free-range conditions.
Key Features
- Early maturity.
- Better egg production than local birds.
- Good adaptability to scavenging systems.
- Suitable for backyard poultry farming.
Hatchery Unit
The Hatchery Unit is established for the production of day-old chicks from fertile eggs produced by the parent flock.
Infrastructure
- Two Setter-cum-Hatcher Machines.
- Capacity: 600 eggs per machine.
- Scientific incubation and hatching management.
- Production of quality chicks throughout the year.
Importance of Hatchery Unit
- Ensures continuous supply of improved chicks.
- Supports backyard poultry development programmes.
- Produces healthy and uniform chicks.
- Reduces dependency on external chick suppliers.
- Facilitates timely distribution of chicks to farmers.
Brooding Unit
The Brooding Unit is designed for scientific rearing of newly hatched chicks during their critical early growth period.
Management Practice
- Chicks produced from the hatchery are transferred to the brooding shed immediately after hatching.
- Proper temperature, feeding, watering, and health care are maintained.
- Chicks are brooded for approximately one month.
- After completion of the brooding period, healthy and vaccinated chicks are distributed to farmers.
Importance of Brooding
- Reduces early chick mortality.
- Promotes uniform growth.
- Improves survivability under field conditions.
- Ensures strong and healthy birds for backyard farming.
Indigenous Poultry Bird Unit
The Indigenous Poultry Bird Unit is maintained for conservation, multiplication, and demonstration of native poultry genetic resources.
Objectives
- Conservation of indigenous poultry germplasm.
- Demonstration of native bird management.
- Awareness regarding the importance of indigenous breeds.
- Promotion of low-input poultry farming systems.
Benefits of Indigenous Birds
- Better adaptability to local climatic conditions.
- Disease tolerance.
- Excellent scavenging ability.
- Preferred by consumers for taste and quality.
- Suitable for free-range production systems.
Distribution of Improved Poultry Birds to Farmers
One of the major activities of the Poultry Demonstration Unit is the distribution of improved poultry birds to farmers, rural women, self-help groups, and aspiring poultry entrepreneurs.
Distribution Process
- Fertile eggs are produced from the parent flock.
- Eggs are incubated in the hatchery unit.
- Chicks are hatched and transferred to the brooding shed.
- Chicks are reared scientifically for one month.
- Vaccinated and healthy birds are distributed to farmers for backyard poultry farming.
Importance of the Poultry Demonstration Unit
- Promotes backyard poultry farming as a livelihood enterprise.
- Improves household nutritional security through egg and meat production.
- Generates supplementary income for rural families.
- Encourages women participation in poultry-based enterprises.
- Demonstrates scientific poultry production technologies.
- Provides practical training to farmers, rural youth, students, and entrepreneurs.
- Produces and supplies quality chicks of improved poultry breeds.
Impact on Rural Livelihoods
The Poultry Demonstration Unit plays an important role in enhancing income, employment, and nutritional security among rural households. Through the production and distribution of improved poultry birds, the unit supports sustainable backyard poultry farming and contributes to the socio-economic development of farming communities.
“The Poultry Demonstration Unit at KVK serves as a model centre for production, brooding, and dissemination of improved poultry birds, enabling farmers to adopt scientific backyard poultry farming for better income and nutritional security.”
Soil Analysis Laboratory
The Soil Analysis Laboratory at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Latur provides scientific soil testing services to farmers for assessing soil fertility and nutrient status. The laboratory is equipped with modern instruments for analyzing important soil health parameters such as pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, and Sodium. Based on the test results, crop-specific nutrient management recommendations are provided to help farmers improve soil health, optimize fertilizer use, and enhance crop productivity. The laboratory serves as an important infrastructure facility supporting sustainable agriculture and informed farm management decisions
Hatchery Unit
The KVK hatchery unit is equipped with two incubators-cum-hatchers, with a combined capacity to handle 400 eggs at a time for chick production. Fertile eggs are first placed in the incubator trays for incubation, and after 18 days, the eggs are transferred to the hatcher trays for successful hatching.
The hatchery unit is utilized for the production of indigenous (desi) poultry chicks as well as improved poultry varieties. The chicks produced are supplied to farmers for backyard poultry farming promotion and are also used in the KVK poultry demonstration units.
This facility supports the dissemination of quality poultry germplasm, promotes self-employment opportunities in rural areas, and strengthens extension activities aimed at enhancing sustainable poultry-based livelihood security.