Knowledge Exchange Initiative on Kisan Sarathi 2.0 Organised in Bankura

6–7 September 2025, Bankura

A Knowledge Exchange Initiative on Kisan Sarathi 2.0 was organised for Bankura district by ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata, at CADC Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Bankura, in hybrid mode. The programme aimed to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for Kisan Sarathi 2.0, which is being piloted through ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata.

Dr. A. Bandopadhyya, Former National Coordinator, NASF, emphasised that the platform must move beyond increasing registrations to ensuring its active and meaningful use by farmers. He highlighted the importance of incorporating farmer-centric features and continuous capacity-building to expand its reach and impact.

Addressing the participants, Dr. Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata, underlined that Kisan Sarathi 2.0 should evolve as an inclusive, farmer-driven digital platform, particularly catering to the needs of tribal and women farmers. He stressed the importance of timely advisories, integration of soil health, market, and insurance data, and bridging last-mile service gaps.

Dr. Dey further proposed the introduction of ‘Kisan Sarathi Mitra IDs’ for select progressive farmers who can act as local champions of digital literacy, thereby strengthening the farming community’s capacity to adopt agri-digital innovations. He reiterated ICAR-ATARI Kolkata’s commitment to transforming real-time farmer support and ensuring resilience and sustainability through Kisan Sarathi 2.0.

A field visit was also organised in Narayansundari, Patjore, Kochdihi, Shiderbandh villages of of Sonamukhi block and Nayabasat village of Taldangra Block to get the pulse of farmers and their perceived need from Kisan Sarathi 2.0 with state-level agro-advisory platforms and real-time data use for predictive pest and disease advisories.

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