16 January 2026, Anand, Gujarat
A Preparatory Workshop on the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA) for Gujarat State was held at Anand Agricultural University (AAU), Anand, Gujarat. The programme was jointly organized by ICAR–Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, Boriavi, Anand, and ICAR–Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Pune, Maharashtra. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Rajbir Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR, New Delhi and Nodal Officer for VKSA, Gujarat State.
Dr. K. B. Kathiria, Vice-Chancellor, AAU, Anand, emphasized that collaborative and multidisciplinary approaches are essential to realizing the vision of “One Nation – One Agriculture – One Team”. He highlighted the importance of promoting natural farming practices, artificial intelligence–based solutions, and climate-resilient agricultural technologies to address existing agricultural challenges.
Dr. Rajbir Singh emphasized the need to prioritize researchable issues that emerged during the implementation of VKSA–Kharif 2025. He underlined that collective and collaborative efforts among SAUs, KVKs, ATMA, and State Government Departments are crucial for developing an effective and result-oriented agricultural roadmap for Gujarat.
During the interaction, he highlighted the recently signed MoUs between ICAR and NDDB, noting that integration of ICAR’s research expertise with NDDB’s extensive field experience would significantly enhance farmer productivity, sustainability, and income generation, particularly in the dairy sector. He also drew attention to the coastal salinity challenges faced by Gujarat and urged collaboration between ICAR–CSSRI Regional Research Station, Bharuch, SAUs, and other stakeholders for the promotion of salt-tolerant improved varieties of wheat, rice, and cotton in affected regions.
The workshop was graced by the presence of several eminent dignitaries, including Dr. K. B. Kathiria, Vice-Chancellor, AAU, Anand; Dr. Manish Das, Director, ICAR–DMAPR, Boriavi, Anand and Co-Nodal Officer for VKSA, Gujarat State; Dr. Subrata Kumar Roy, Director, ICAR–ATARI, Pune; Dr. M. K. Jhala, Director of Research, AAU, Anand; Dr. Gopal Vadodariya, Director,Research, Gujarat Natural Farming Science University, Halol, Panchmahal, Gujarat; Directors of Extension Education (DEE) of the State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) of Gujarat; Senior Officials from the State Department of Agriculture; representatives from NDDB, Anand; Director and Head of various ICAR research institutes operating in Gujarat; Head of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of the state; and other distinguished guests and agricultural experts.
At the outset, Dr. Manish Das formally welcomed all dignitaries and participants and briefed about the scenario of agriculture in Gujarat. This was followed by Dr. Subrata Kumar Roy, who briefed the gathering on the objectives of the workshop and highlighted the significant achievements from kharif VKSA–2025.
Officers from the state government informed that district and divisional offices, in coordination with ATMA, are actively implementing government schemes at the village level and providing vital field-level support to farmers across the state.
The workshop witnessed the participation of more than 90 stakeholders, who actively engaged in deliberations by sharing field experiences, challenges, and actionable suggestions, contributing to meaningful discussions for the successful planning and implementation of VKSA in Gujarat.
(Source: ICAR–Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, Boriavi, Anand, and ICAR–Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Pune)
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