Farmers, who still constitute 60% of the labor force and support around two-thirds of the population with their income, must have access to the best knowledge which need not necessarily mean the latest knowledge, with regard to agricultural technology. These days, there is a lot of talk about transforming India into a knowledge society. The UPA government constituted a Knowledge Commission with an NRI based in the US, Sam Pitroda, as its Chairman. When the President visited Kerala and addressed the Legislative Assembly, again it was the Knowledge Sector", i.e., the Information Technology, that he focused upon and the farm sector was neglected. The reconstituted National Farmers Commission by the UPA government also has been talking about Village Knowledge Centers.

As early as 2001, a Task Force set up by the Planning Commission argued that these centers would increase agricultural productivity and release surplus manpower from traditional agriculture, which could then be redeployed elsewhere. The recent announcements within and outside the government have focused on the creation of a knowledge society and economy as the basis for defining official strategy in all sectors. Since agriculture accounts for the livelihood of more than 60% of the Indian population, it is important to critically examine what this "new" concept can do to enhance agricultural productivity in India. Though it must be admitted that knowledge of the "new" technology is welcome by farmers, one must also be aware of the obvious problems with such a grand ambition.