ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore demonstrates Soil Moisture Indicator to tribal farmers and vocational stream students in Attappady

5 November 2026, Coimbatore

ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore in collaboration with ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Palakkad, organised an awareness campaign for farmers at Vadakottathara in Attappady block, Palakkad district, Kerala, today. Held under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Khet bachao abhiyan and Janjatiya Diwas (Tribal Pride Day) celebrations, the programme featured a field demonstration of the Institute-developed Soil Moisture Indicator (SMI).

The programme commenced with a welcome address highlighting the significant contributions of the long-standing collaboration between ICAR-KVK Palakkad and ICAR-SBI towards the welfare of tribal farmers in the Attappady hills. The significance of organizing the campaign on the farm of an organic farmer was emphasized, along with the various initiatives undertaken by KVK to promote natural and organic farming practices in the region.

The introductory session highlighted the objectives and significance of Khet Bachao Abhiyan, being conducted nationwide from October 22 to November 30, 2026, and Janjatiya Gaurav Pakhwada, observed from November 1 to 15, 2026, to commemorate the 151st birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda. The ongoing efforts of ICAR-SBI towards the holistic social, economic, agricultural, and health development of eight tribal communities across Tamil Nadu and Kerala were also highlighted.

The importance of integrating water conservation with soil health management was emphasized, particularly in the context of the Attappady hills, a rain-shadow region. The potential of simple and affordable irrigation-scheduling tools, such as the Soil Moisture Indicator (SMI), was discussed as an effective means of promoting need-based irrigation and minimizing waterlogging, nutrient leaching, and soil compaction.

The Soil Moisture Indicator (SMI), a portable and easy-to-use tool for estimating soil moisture status, was demonstrated in the field of an organic farmer. Students of Government Tribal Vocational Higher Secondary School, Pudur, Attappady, and tribal women actively participated in the demonstration.

Farmers appreciated the demonstration, noting that it helped them understand how timely and need-based irrigation can conserve water while protecting soil health. They also emphasized that such simple, low-cost technologies could be particularly useful in Attappady, where judicious water management is essential for sustaining agriculture.

During the question-and-answer session, farmers' queries on natural pest management, liquid biofertilisers, green manuring with dhaincha, declining soil organic matter, and improving soil microbial activity were addressed.

(Source: ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore)