Genesis

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi sanctioned Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Ratnagiri to Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth (Dr. BSKKV) ,Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri (Maharashtra) in the year of 1983. Being host organisation, Dr.BSKKV, Dapoli is providing administrative and technological support to KVK since last three decades. The KVK Ratnagiri is fully functional to conduct capacity development programmes for Agri-Enterprenuership Developement & demostrate flagship technologies on farmers field in Agricultural and allied sectors.

The Ratnagiri district consists of nine tahasils with total geographical area of 8.18 lakh ha. The major soil type of the district is lateriteand alluvial, and having average annual rainfall of 3500 to 4000 mm. The Ratnagiri is dominated by small landholders and about 45.00 per cent of farm families are possessing 1 to 2 ha of operational land. The major crops grown are  rice (Oriza sativa), finger millet (Guizotia abyssinica), small millets and niger (Guizotia abyssinica) during Kharif season and cow pea ( Vigna unguiculata ), red gram (Cajanus cajan), green gram (Vigna radiata), horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) and dolichus bean (Dolichus lablab) in Rabi season. While in summer, groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) and some vegetables are grown by farmers having irrigation facility. Further, the district is well known for horticultural crops such as mango ( Mangifera indica), cashew (Anacardium occidentale), coconut (Cocas nusifera),areca nut (Areca catechu) and spices like black pepper (Piper nigrum), cinnamon (Cinnamomumverum), nut meg (Myristica fragrans). Dairy, poultry, goat rearing and fishery are the main pillars of secondary agriculture in the district.