Sindhudurg Zillah Krishi Pratishthan is a reputed non government organization established by Brig. Sudhir Sawant in Sindhudurg district Maharashtra to promote sustainable livelihood in rural areas.  The SZKP has evolved innovative models of micro enterprises to ensure development through dairy, goat production, agri – horti – forestry and sustainable agricultural production for food security and poverty alleviation, formation of self help groups, empowerment women and environmental sustainability come across all these programmers.

The vision of the SZKP is to build a self reliant rural agricultural society assured of food security.  Good health and lean environment.  SZKP mission is to create opportunities of gainful self- employment for the rural families, ensuring sustainable livelihood, enriched environment, improved quality of life and good human values.  This is being achieved through development research, education, effective use of local resources, extension of appropriate technologies and up gradation of skills and capabilities with community participation.

The Krishi Vigyan Kendra has been established by SZKP under the sponsorship of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi was a major mandate of Technology Assessment and demonstration for its application and capacity Development. KVK, as a frontline extension model at district level, has showcased frontier technologies, develop the capacity of different stakeholders, front runners in technology application. KVK has shown its visibility and presence in the Sindhudurg district. KVK is implementing several special programs launched through central and state governments. Cluster frontline demonstrations, climate resilient technologies, quality seed and planting materials production, farmer centric approach, nutria-sensitive agriculture, attracting and retaining youth in agriculture, post harvest processing and value addition, skill development, organizing farmers, identifying farm innovations etc. are being given major focus. Doubling farmers’ income through district specific strategy is taken on priority. Linkage and conveyance with concerned departments is also strengthened. A large number of extension activities are being organized by KVK in the district. KVK is actively involved in production of quality seeds, planting materials, livestock, bio-products and supplying them to the needy farmers.

Chhatrapati Shivaji College of Agriculture, Kirlos Oros was established in 2002. It is affiliated with Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Agriculture University – Dapoli and offers a 4 year B.Sc. Hon’s (Agriculture) degree course with 90 intake capacity. Main campus is situated at Sindhudurgnagari. Students successfully clearing the HSC (XII) with Science Stream are eligible for admission. College has a placement cell and each year a number of companies visit our campus and recruit our students. College has well equipped laboratories including Poultry, Dairy & Goatry unit and Wi-Fi facility. Besides, college has a NSS, NCC boys and NCC girls unit.

The SZKP has implemented the women empowerment programme for capacity building of women in Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. About 2500 SHGs are registered by SZKP to provide a platform for poor women to participate in mainstream economics activity. The SZKP helps in capacity building by providing greater awareness on various agricultural development and welfare programme relating to women health and education. SZKP intervention enables women to become self reliant, develop interpersonal skills and recognize the importance of the role and contribution they can make to society. In addition women are imparted much needed professional skills in agriculture for self employment.

The distance learning in agriculture was started during the year 2005 by SZKP at Sindhudurg. The school has practiced a vision of providing vocational, professional and employment generating mass education in regional language of Marathi with a mission of reaching the unreached section of population such as dropouts from the conventional education system, practicing farmers, farm women and rural youth in Maharashtra. The list of academic programmes covers certificate in gardening, foundation in agriculture, Diploma in Horticulture, Diploma in agri – business management, Diploma in agro journalism, Diploma in fruit production, Diploma in vegetable production, Diploma in floriculture & landscape gardening. B.Sc. agriculture & B.Sc Horticulture. Self instructional learning material; face to face contact discussion sessions for theory and practical components are the key parameter. For the success in the distance education system in agriculture enrollment is about 250 students per year.