Dr. Shaik N. Meera
Director, ICAR-ATARI, Zone X, Hyderabad

"If agriculture is the soul of India, then innovation is the breath that keeps it alive."

At ICAR-ATARI Zone X, Hyderabad, we are not just witnessing change-we are architecting the future of Indian agriculture. Our journey transcends the conventional boundaries of extension and skilling. We stand at the confluence of science, society, and sustainability, where Krishi Vigyan Kendras are no longer mere outposts of dissemination, but vibrant epicenters of digital empowerment, green innovation, and community-led transformation. The demands of the 21st century farmer are not confined to seeds and soils-they stretch into sensors, satellites, and skills. That is why our KVKs are evolving into Smart Agri Innovation Hubs, integrating artificial intelligence, blockchain, IoT, and big data to build climate-resilient, market-smart, and youth-inclusive rural ecosystems. Our focus is razor-sharp-transforming every KVK into a digital lighthouse that beams hope, knowledge, and enterprise.

From tribal eco-tourism to agrivoltaics, from carbon farming to global skilling alliances-our canvas is as vast as the aspirations of rural India. We are aligning with global VET frameworks, energizing the agricultural workforce through futuristic roles like Digital Agriculture Extension Promoters and Carbon Footprint Managers. Every project, every partnership, every farmer we touch, is a line in the story of a new India rising from its villages.

At ICAR-ATARI Zone X, excellence is not an aspiration-it is embedded in our DNA. Our Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) have redefined the benchmarks in executing mandated activities with precision and purpose. From meticulously designed On-Farm Trials (OFTs) that bridge research with real-world relevance, to Frontline Demonstrations (FLDs) that catalyze technology adoption across diverse agro-ecologies, every intervention is data-driven and farmer-centric. Our training programs are not just knowledge sessions-they are transformative experiences that build capacities, ignite rural entrepreneurship, and empower marginalized communities. With robust systems for timely and quality supply of seeds and planting material, KVKs ensure genetic purity and last-mile access to resilient varieties. Under Central Sector Schemes, our seamless coordination and field-level execution have turned policy into progress, creating measurable impacts in income enhancement, climate resilience, and nutritional security. This relentless pursuit of excellence fuels our vision of creating a self-reliant, future-ready farming landscape across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

This is not evolution. This is revolution-quiet, inclusive, data-driven, and future-ready. We believe that a well-trained farmer with the right technology is not just a producer, but a change-maker. As custodians of agricultural transformation, our mission is clear: to convert every challenge into an opportunity, every village into a value-chain node, and every youth into a knowledge entrepreneur..

Come, witness the resurgence. The field is ready. The future is fertile. And ATARI is sowing the seeds of a new agricultural awakening.

Jai Kisan. Jai Vigyan. Jai Anusandhan.