Nationwide Pre-Kharif Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan concludes: Focus on bridging the gap between research & grassroots farming

Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA), a major initiative of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi came to an end on 12th June 2025. The closing ceremony of the program was held at Bardoli, Gujarat in a Farmers Conclave. Addressing the farmers, Hon’ble Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, stressed upon need for integration of scientific research with grassroots farming practices. This important 15 days agricultural awareness campaign started on 29th May, 2025 in Puri, Odisha and benefitted the farming community (more than one crore) across the country as teams comprising of agricultural scientists, KVK experts, officials from SAUs, state departments, cooperatives, SHGs, NGOs and other organizations visited farmers doorstep and provided technical advisory and information on Govt. schemes. 

In Bihar, the program was launched by Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister, Government of Bihar on 29th May, 2025 while in Jharkhand the same was inaugurated in Ranchi by Shri Sanjay Seth, Minister of State for Defence, Govt. of India. Union Agriculture Minister, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited Motihari, Bihar and interacted with farmers about scientific farming practices on 2nd June, 2025. Shri Ramnath Thakur also attended many events in Bihar interacting with farmers about scientific agriculture practices. Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister, Government of Biharwas the chief guest of concluding program at Darbhanga. Several VIPs Hon’ble Ministers from State Governments, MPs and MLAs also addressed the farmers. 

The program received very good response at grass root level as millions of farmers took benefit from agricultural advisory and govt. schemes. Through this mega event, agricultural scientist and other stakeholders could reach to almost 8.58 lakh farmers covering in more than 7757 villages across 62 districts of Bihar and Jharkhand. Women participation was about 30% in Bihar and 53% in Jharkhand. A total of 103 multidisciplinary teams in Bihar and 58 teams in Jharkhand were involved in implementation of this campaign. KVKs could reach most of the blocks in their respective districts.

Farmers were advised on adoption of high yielding suitable varieties of paddy, maize, arhar, millets and fruits as well vegetables grown during kharif season. Information on drought, submergence, bio-fortified varieties of crops like rice, maize, millets, vegetables, fruits were shared to farmers. Technological knowledge about direct seeded rice, integrated farming system, animal nutrition and health management were also shared. Use of soil health card, natural farming, integrated pest management, balanced fertilizer application and climate resilient practices were also promoted among farmers. Information on animal husbandry, fisheries and other allied sectors were also given for scientific agriculture. State department officials informed them about central and state sector agricultural schemes so that they can get some benefits of govt. schemes. In many places, drone technology was demonstrated with the help of IFFCO team which catched the attention of farmers. 

Farmers’ feedback were recorded by the tams. One of the foremost concerns was the poor quality of seeds and the untimely availability of planting materials, which hampers yield level. Rising prices of fertilizers, non-availability of chemical fertilizers in time, pesticides on time also affected their crop.  Poor availability of veterinary services in villages and lack of knowledge about vaccination, deworming etc in animals were big challenges for livestock owners. Another major issue highlighted was the shortage of agricultural labor, especially during peak sowing and harvesting seasons, which calls for greater emphasis on farm mechanization and availability of affordable equipment. Irrigation problem andwild animal menace (Blue bulls, wild boars) have been reported widely across the state of Bihar and Jharkhand.

ICAR research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna,  its centre in Ranchi and two KVKS (Ramgarh and Buxar) participated with full zeal and spirit in Bihar and Jharkhand along with other ICAR institutes, Universities, state agriculture departments, NGOs and others. The institute in 15 days through its 32 teams could reach to about two lakhs farmers in Bihar and Jharkhand. The data collected in terms of feedback and farmers’ issues will be used to devise future research strategies and policy planning by the ICAR, DA&FW, Universities, and state agriculture departments. The ICAR RCER, Patna organized the concluding VKSA program in Naubatpur village where farmers interacted with experts and scientists about improved farming, integrated farming system, high yielding varieties, high value fruits and vegetables, market linkage, need for custom hiring centres among many others.