Sachnews Jammu Kashmir
PAMPORE, JUNE 04:
The Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA), a 15-day nationwide campaign launched by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, was held at Patalbagh village of Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Wednesday.
The event was jointly organized by SKUAST-Kashmir’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Malangpora and the Agriculture Department Kashmir.
The focus of the campaign was to educate farmers on advanced agricultural techniques, with a special emphasis on Kharif crops and various centrally sponsored agricultural schemes, officials told Sachnews.
The programme was graced by the presence of several key dignitaries, including Director Extension SKUAST-Kashmir, Rihana Habib Kant; Head of KVK Malangpora, Prof. Javaid Ahmad Magloo; Sub Divisional Agriculture Officer Tral, Mohammad Iqbal Wani, Agriculture Extension Officer Pampore Ishtiyaq Ahmad Bhat, Horticulture Development Officer Kakapora, Masood Ahmad Shah along with other officials from allied departments.
The event saw enthusiastic participation from the local farming community, successfully bringing together farmers and agricultural experts on a common platform to promote sustainable agricultural practices.
The dignitaries addressed the gathering, offering valuable insights and motivational messages to encourage the adoption of modern farming methods for improved outcomes.
Speaking to Sachnews, Director Extension SKUAST-Kashmir, Rihana Habib Kant, said that the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA) programme is currently underway and will run from May 29 to June 12. As part of this initiative, three teams are visiting three locations in each district, covering a total of nine locations per day. The target is to reach between 100 to 300 farmers in each area where villages are being connected.
The teams include officers from various line departments, scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and researchers from university research centers. They are actively visiting villages in every block. During these visits, they are engaging with farmers to understand their problems and requirements. The teams are also educating farmers about the latest technologies and packages of practices that have not yet been adopted, with the aim of improving agricultural productivity and awareness.
She told Sachnews that the Kharif season is currently underway, and the teams are guiding farmers on various aspects such as how to carry out transplanting, the appropriate amount of seeding, the correct dosage of fertilizers, and effective weed management practices.
Additionally, since it is also the apple season, they are providing relevant information to apple growers. They are advising farmers on how to recover, to some extent, from the crop damage caused by the recent hailstorms that have been occurring for several days.
Furthermore, the teams are educating farmers about routine apple orchard management, including providing important information on apple scab and how to prevent or manage it.
She also said, officers from the Animal Husbandry and Sheep Husbandry departments are actively involved in this initiative, along with officials from the Horticulture, Agriculture, and Fisheries departments of Kashmir. These officers are providing valuable information and raising awareness among farmers about various government schemes.
They are also guiding farmers on what actions they need to take during the upcoming months of September and October, whether it relates to paddy fields, apple orchards, fisheries, fish farms, or sheep and mutton farming. The teams are informing them today about the techniques, resources, and practices they will need in these areas to improve their productivity and efficiency.
Speaking to Sachnews, Prof. Javaid Ahmad Magloo, Head of KVK Malangpora, said that the programme started on May 29 and will continue until June 12 across the entire country. Around 700 districts are being covered under this initiative, with nearly 2,000 scientists and allied sector professionals participating. Approximately 1.5 crore farmers are expected to be involved nationwide.
Similarly, in Kashmir, the programme has been ongoing since May 29 and is being conducted in every district. Various new activities and events are being organized in each district. SKUAST-Kashmir, along with its allied departments—including Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, and Sericulture Development—is playing an active role. Officers from each sector are working to raise awareness among farmers about the latest technologies, new seed varieties, and government schemes.
The aim is to inform farmers about these innovations and encourage them to adopt them—from lab to field. This includes promoting the use of high-potential, high-yielding seed varieties and moving away from older, traditional varieties. Farmers are also being made aware of beneficial schemes across the valley, whether related to agriculture, horticulture, or SKUAST-Kashmir. The ultimate goal of the programme is to ensure that farmers take advantage of these schemes, adopt modern techniques and technologies, and improve their overall productivity and livelihood.