Sri Vijaya Puram, June 2: The Khet Bachao Abhiyan was launched by the ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CIARI) and its units at Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), South Andaman, North & Middle Andaman, and Car Nicobar, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Andaman and Nicobar Administration and the Union Territory Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA), A&N Islands.
The campaign aims to strengthen farmers’ awareness and promote sustainable agricultural practices by providing practical information and technical guidance directly at the village level. The major focus areas of the campaign include the benefits of soil testing, balanced and efficient fertilizer use, opportunities available under the Pulses, Oilseeds and Cotton Missions, and information on various government schemes, subsidies, and support programmes for farmers.
As part of the campaign, a comprehensive roadmap has been prepared to organize a series of outreach programmes involving input dealers, local dealers, members and representatives of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), cooperative societies, current and former Sarpanches, Zila Parishad members, community representatives, farm innovators, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), and progressive farmers. These stakeholder-oriented programmes are expected to facilitate wider dissemination of scientific agricultural knowledge and government initiatives among farming communities across the islands.
The inaugural programme of the campaign was organized at Namunaghar, South Andaman, where 30 farmers actively participated. The programme was attended by scientists from ICAR-CIARI and ICAR-KVK South Andaman, officials from the Department of Agriculture, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, and local farmers.
During the programme, the experts highlighted the importance of soil health management and encouraged farmers to undertake regular soil testing for scientific nutrient management. Farmers were informed about the advantages of balanced and efficient fertilizer use in improving crop productivity, reducing input costs, and maintaining long-term soil fertility. Detailed information was also provided on various government schemes and support programmes available for enhancing agricultural production and farmers’ livelihoods.
The campaign will continue across different villages of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with the objective of reaching a large number of farmers and promoting sustainable, climate-resilient, and profitable agriculture through scientific interventions and effective extension services.