Introduction
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are the district level Farm Science Centres, established by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for speedy transfer of technology to the farmers fields. The KVKs aim at increasing the productivity on a sustainable basis and creating opportunities for greater economic activities in agriculture and allied sectors. The KVKs identify the technological needs of the farming community and endeavor to meet these needs through multifarious activities like technology assessment and refinement, organization of training programmes, demonstrations, , agricultural exhibitions, fields days, campaigns, publication of simple technical literature in local language etc.
Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Bajaura was established in 1985, under the administrative control of the Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur and is fully funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. The centre is situated at Bajaura (1090 m a m s l ) on Chandigarh-Manali highway (NH-21) which is 18 Km ahead of Kullu. The Kullu-Manali airport is about 6 KM from the centre. Harnessing of locally available resources, increasing yield of crops through scientific niche based techniques inculcating entrepreneurship among the rural youth for self employment and paving possibility of new avenues for the farmers to enhance their socio-economic status remains the main aim of this Kendra. This is multipurpose research, training, demonstration and service centre on agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, agro-forestry, organic farming and home science.
The operational area of this Kendra is whole of the Kullu district, which is situated in the inner Himalayas between 310 20 25 to 320 25 0 North latitude and 760 56 30 to 770 52 20 East longitude and has altitudes ranging from 900 m to 4020 m above mean sea level. The district has diverse agro-climatic conditions. The district of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur having cold desertic climate, lie in the North and East, respectively. Shimla, the state headquarter is on the South, whereas Mandi and parts of Kangra district are on the West of Kullu. Administratively, the district is divided into three sub-divisions viz. Kullu, Banjar and Ani. For developmental purposes, the district has been divided into five blocks, Naggar, Kullu, Banjar, Ani & Nirmand. Beas being a large perennial snow fed river, passes through the district besides several other small rivers and rivulets.
