National Campaign on Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan at Jhargram district of West Bengal

 

National Campaign on Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan at Jhargram district of West Bengal

As part of the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s visionary Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan

(VKSA), a National Campaign was successfully conducted by ICAR-Central Institute of

Freshwater Aquaculture, Regional Research Centre, Rahara, Kolkata in association with

Jhargram Vigyan Kendra, Jhargram conducted Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA) in

6 villages (Kui, Kurkutsol, Malabati, Bhaluka, Sasra and Asanbani) and 4 blocks(Binpur I

& II, Jamboni and Gopibalabpur I) and covered more than 1800 farmers of Jahargram

district during 03.06.2025 to 05.06.25.

This high-impact campaign brought together a multidisciplinary team of

scientists committed to transforming Indian agriculture through innovation, knowledge-

sharing, and community engagement. Leading the initiative was a dedicated team

comprising scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Central Institute

of Freshwater Aquaculture, Regional Research Centre, Rahara—Dr. B.N. Paul, Dr. Farhana

Hoque, and Dr. Ajmal Hussan; from ICAR-NBSS&LUP, Regional Centre, Kolkata—Dr. S.G.

Choudhury, ICAR-CIFRI, Dr.A,K.Bera and from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Jhargram—Dr.

Srabani Das and Dr.A.K.Maiti. Farmers-scientists interaction meetings were convened in

all the 6 villages, drawing an overwhelming response from the local farming community.

A total of 1800 farmers actively participated in the campaign, underlining the deep-

rooted enthusiasm and trust in science-led agricultural transformation.

Dr. B.N. Paul, team leader from ICAR-CIFA, delivered the keynote address and

provided an insightful overview of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan. His address

emphasized the campaign’s core objectives—promotion of modern agricultural

advancements, improved access to government schemes and entitlements, and creation

of a robust interface between farmers and scientists.

The interactive sessions enabled a meaningful exchange of ideas, where farmers

expressed their challenges and aspirations, while scientists shared need-based

solutions, technological packages, and success models. The campaign also served as a

gateway to inform farmers about ongoing flagship government initiatives tailored to

empower them with knowledge, resources, and resilience. Total 8 leaflets of different

disciplines related to Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry were

distributed among the farmer participants. A special Bengali leaflet on Composite Fish

Culture was published by ICAR-CIFA on the occasion of VKSA National Campaign during

29 May to 12 June,2025 and distributed among the farmers. The essentiality of soil

testing has been discussed in detail during interaction meet. The scientists of different

subjects and ICAR institutes delivered subject specific lectures. Team led by Dr. B.N.

Paul, Dr. Farhana Hoque and Dr. Ajmal Hussan, ICAR-CIFA, RRC-Rahara; Dr. Shreyasi

Gupta Choudhury, ICAR-NBSS @LUP, RC, Kolkata; ICAR-CIFRI, Dr.A.K.Bera and Dr.

Srabani Das, KVK-Jhargram addressed the farmers in the said meeting. This VKSA

National Campaign is unique in nature as it emphasises a bottom-up approach where

farmers are directly involved in shaping agricultural policies and research.

This impactful outreach reinforced ICAR-CIFA's unwavering commitment to take science

to society and to ensure no farmer is left behind in the journey toward a Viksit Bharat

through a Viksit Krishi. The campaign at Kui and Kurkutsol stands as a testimony to the

transformational power of collaboration, grassroots engagement, and scientific

intervention in shaping the future of Indian agriculture.