Raipur : The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, has launched a nation-wide pre-Kharif campaign titled “Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA) 2025”. Scheduled from 29 May to 12 June 2025, this 15-day campaign aims to reach nearly 1.5 crore farmers across 700 districts in the country.
As part of a collaborative national effort, the Centre, in association with State Governments, will deploy over 2,000 multidisciplinary teams comprising farm scientists, agriculture officials, progressive farmers, and other stakeholders. Each team will conduct three farmer interaction meetings daily, targeting outreach to 10–12 lakh farmers every day.
In Chhattisgarh, the campaign will be conducted in all development blocks, coordinated by the ICAR–National Institute of Biotic Stress Management (NIBSM), Raipur.
Dr. P.K. Rai, Director, ICAR-NIBSM, informed that joint teams have been formed involving officials from the departments of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, and fisheries, along with scientists from ICAR-NIBSM and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). Additionally, public representatives and progressive farmers will also actively participate in the field-level activities.
Dr. Rai highlighted the importance of leveraging ICT tools and visual media to enhance farmer engagement and outreach. He stressed that VKSA is a critical initiative aimed at increasing farmers’ incomes through the promotion of modern and scientific agricultural practices. He urged all farmers to actively participate in the campaign and adopt innovative technologies for better productivity.
During the campaign in Chhattisgarh, the field teams will visit 2 to 3 selected gram panchayats daily to facilitate scientific interactions with farmers. The key focus areas of the campaign include direct sowing of paddy, use of drones for pesticide application, promotion of natural farming, dissemination of improved seed varieties, balanced use of fertilizers, and raising awareness about state-sponsored schemes in agriculture and allied sectors.
These direct engagements will help identify on-ground challenges faced by farmers, document innovative practices, and provide valuable inputs for future research, technological advancements, and policy development.
The ICAR-NIBSM, Raipur will lead the monitoring of the campaign’s progress and effectiveness across the state.
