Awareness Campaign on Balanced Fertilizer Use and Sustainable Agricultural Practices Organised at ICAR-CCARI, Goa

23 April 2026, Goa

With the objective of promoting the judicious and balanced application of fertilizers and reducing excessive chemical fertilizer dependency, a specialized training-cum-awareness programme was organized for farmers from Maharashtra at the ICAR–Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa, today.

Dr Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR-CCARI, Goa, sensitized the participating farmers on the imperative of balanced fertilizer application. He emphasized a shift toward Integrated Nutrient Management, highlighting how the strategic use of bio-fertilizers and vermicompost can restore soil vitality and reduce the dependence on chemical fertilizers.

The training focused on popularizing natural farming approaches and alternative agricultural practices, such as biomass recycling, vermicompost production, and the application of bio-inoculants and Jeevamrut to enhance soil microbial life. Integrating a holistic "One Health" perspective, the programme emphasized the critical link between soil quality and animal health, specifically highlighting how balanced soil nutrition prevents mineral deficiencies and toxicities that lead to complex disease conditions, a key concern in veterinary pathology.

Furthermore, the session explored the synergy between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, noting how responsible fertilizer consumption and the prevention of chemical runoff are vital for fisheries resource management and the preservation of coastal water quality. By advocating for crop planning that requires lower chemical inputs and demonstrating the economic benefits of improved input-use efficiency, the campaign sensitized farmers on how to enhance farm profitability while ensuring long-term ecological sustainability.

This initiative directly addressed the need for behavioural change and public outreach by empowering 27 participants, including 14 women farmers, with practical knowledge on sustainable soil health improvement.

(Source: ICAR–Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa)