IIVR scientists reach out to 2,000 farmers across 6 dists under ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan'

Time of India

2 days ago

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Varanasi: In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to revamp and energize the agriculture sector, the Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR) in Varanasi organised a comprehensive farmer awareness programme on Thursday as part of the 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan 2025'.
According to the IIVR authorities, the programme reached 2,063 farmers across 33 villages in six districts of Uttar Pradesh. Over 50 scientists from the institute engaged in direct technical discussions with farmers through face-to-face interactions. The campaign was conducted in Varanasi, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, Bhadohi and Kushinagar districts, with the highest participation of 462 farmers recorded in Kushinagar.
In Varanasi district, 160 farmers from villages Pratappatti, Edilpur, Karaulli, and Daulatiya in Harahua and Sevapuri blocks participated in the programme.
During the programme, farmers shared major challenges including Nilgai menace, irregular rainfall, water quality issues, soil health problems, market prices, high water table, urbanisation pressure, and availability of quality seeds. Scientists provided detailed information on natural farming, integrated pest management, new varieties, soil health management, crop diversification, direct seeded rice cultivation, summer ploughing, and govt schemes.
IIVR director Rajesh Kumar, who was present at the Karaulli village programme in Varanasi, said, "This campaign is a significant initiative towards doubling farmers' income and promoting sustainable agriculture. Establishing direct dialogue with over 2,000 farmers today is extremely encouraging. Our responsibility is not limited to research alone, but extends to delivering scientific techniques to farmers and solving their problems.
The positive response received from this campaign is highly inspiring for us."
The institute has also announced regular follow-up programmes and establishment of demonstration plots.
Lauding Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, a national campaign aimed at educating farmers about modern and sustainable agricultural technologies as well as practices, CM Yogi Adityanath had on Thursday said that this was the first time when agricultural scientist would come out of their labs and other big institutions to take stock of the agricultural land at the ground level and devise strategies to meet the challenges the farmers face.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Yogi said that the initiative will prove to be a foundation of the 'Viksit Bharat Abhiyan' envisioned by PM Modi. He said that agriculture scientists, officials from the agriculture and the allied sectors and farmers would come together to wheel in measures for higher agricultural productivity and growth.