From Soil to Sustenance on Akshaya Tritiya: A Campaign for Balanced Fertilisation and Resilient Agriculture

20 April 2026, Jagatsinghpur

On the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya today, a Farmers’ Day-cum-Campaign on Balanced Use of Fertilisers was jointly organized by the District Administration and KVK (OUAT), Jagatsinghpur, marking a purposeful step toward sustainable and soil-centric agriculture. The programme was conducted under the banner of the Dharitri Mata Bachao Nigrani Samiti Abhiyan, reinforcing the message of soil conservation for long-term agricultural sustainability.

The programme was inaugurated in the presence of distinguished district leadership, reflecting strong administrative convergence and commitment to farmer-centric development.

Dr Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata, emphasized the need for a science-based and convergent approach to nutrient management for achieving resilient agriculture and food security. He advocated soil test-based fertilizer application through Soil Health Cards, enhancement of soil organic matter through green manuring and organic inputs, and promotion of balanced fertilization under INM, while cautioning against the indiscriminate use of urea and DAP.

The technical sessions focused on scientific nutrient management, emphasizing Soil Health Card-based balanced fertilization, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), and the use of the Leaf Colour Chart (LCC) for nitrogen management in rice.

Farmers were also sensitized on green manuring, natural farming practices, micronutrient application, and biofertilizers, highlighting an integrated approach to soil health restoration and enhanced productivity. Special emphasis was laid on soil testing and adoption of Soil Health Card recommendations for the upcoming Kharif season.

As part of a sustained outreach strategy, KVK Jagatsinghpur is organizing a series of such fertilizer awareness campaigns across different Gram Panchayats to promote judicious and need-based nutrient use.

Approximately 200 farmers actively participated in the campaign.

(Source: ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata)