ICAR-VPKAS, Almora Organises Farmer Awareness Programmes under Khet Bachao Abhiyan

As part of the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan, the ICAR–Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora organized a series of farmer awareness and interaction programmes across Chhani, Palyun, Supai, Bamnatiladi, and Chapad villages in Almora district to promote sustainable agriculture, soil health conservation, and climate-resilient farming practices.

Technical sessions focused on the importance of soil testing, balanced fertilizer application, integrated nutrient management, biofertilizers and biopesticides, mulching, line sowing, and mixed farming as key strategies for improving soil health and enhancing farm productivity. Farmers were sensitized to the adverse impacts of indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, climate change, and declining soil fertility, while emphasizing the need for sustainable and science-based agricultural practices.

Participants were also informed about government initiatives, including the Soil Health Card Scheme, Kisan Credit Card, and Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme, and were encouraged to adopt soil test-based fertilizer application, promote organic and natural farming, and implement locally appropriate scientific technologies to improve agricultural sustainability.

The programmes also covered topics such as soil and water conservation, efficient water management, integrated nutrient management, climate-smart agriculture, and the influence of El Niño on rainfall distribution and crop planning.

The interactive sessions provided farmers with an opportunity to discuss local agricultural challenges, including erratic rainfall, declining soil fertility, crop damage caused by monkeys and wild boars, and the availability of quality seeds. Experts addressed these concerns by recommending suitable scientific and climate-resilient farming practices tailored to the hill ecosystem.

The awareness programmes aimed to strengthen farmers' capacity in sustainable agriculture, balanced nutrient management, soil conservation, and climate-resilient farming while promoting greater awareness of government support mechanisms. Through these initiatives, ICAR-VPKAS continues to encourage environmentally sustainable and economically viable agricultural practices for enhancing the resilience and profitability of farming systems in the Himalayan region.

The programmes witnessed the participation of 110 farmers, including 46 men and 64 women. Of these, 68 farmers (26 men and 42 women) participated in the programmes held at Chhani, Palyun, Supai, and Bamnatiladi villages of Bhaisiyachhana block, while 42 farmers (20 men and 22 women) attended the programme at Chapad village in Tarikhet block.

(Source: ICAR–Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, Uttarakhand)