ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore Organises Advocacy Programme on Balanced Fertilizer Use for Integrated Farming Cluster Development in Subarnapur District, Odisha

7 May 2026, Barrackpore

Balanced nutrient management is fundamental for developing resilient, climate-smart, and sustainable integrated farming systems, particularly in resource-dependent rural regions. Recognizing the growing ecological and economic concerns arising from indiscriminate fertilizer use, an advocacy programme on ‘Balanced Use of Fertilizers for Integrated Farming Cluster Development’ was organized today at ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore for 25 Self-Help Group (SHG) members and Mission Shakti staff from Subarnapur district, Odisha, who visited the institute under an Inter-State Exposure Visit programme.

The programme aimed to sensitize participants on the scientific, judicious, and need-based use of fertilizers for enhancing agricultural and fish productivity while safeguarding soil health, water quality, and long-term environmental sustainability. Deliberations during the programme highlighted that imbalanced and excessive use of chemical fertilizers not only accelerates soil degradation and nutrient imbalance but also intensifies runoff into aquatic ecosystems, adversely affecting fish health, pond ecology, and overall farming sustainability.

During the interactive technical sessions, the experts discussed the harmful consequences of fertilizer misuse and emphasized the urgent need for adopting integrated nutrient management approaches to restore ecological balance in farming systems.

Addressing the participants, Dr Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-CIFRI emphasized that balanced fertilizer use is essential for enhancing crop and fish productivity while safeguarding soil health, water quality, and aquatic ecosystems. He cautioned that indiscriminate fertilizer application accelerates nutrient runoff, ecological degradation, and stress in aquaculture systems. Advocating soil- and water test–based nutrient management, he encouraged farmers to adopt integrated and eco-friendly practices using organic manures, biofertilizers, crop residues, pond silt, and judicious chemical fertilizer use for sustainable and climate-resilient farming.

The advocacy programme is expected to significantly strengthen the knowledge, awareness, and decision-making capacity of the participating farmers and Mission Shakti members from Subarnapur district, Odisha. By promoting balanced fertilizer use and integrated farming approaches, the initiative is poised to contribute towards higher crop and fish productivity, improved soil and water health, reduced cultivation costs, enhanced farm income, and strengthened livelihood security while ensuring long-term ecological sustainability.

(Source: ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata)