Ceremonial Launch of “Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan” Held in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh

29 May 2025, Itanagar

The Government of India’s flagship pre-Kharif initiative, Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, was ceremonially launched in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, in the presence of Shri Gabriel D. Wangsu, Minister of Agriculture & Allied Sectors, Government of Arunachal Pradesh.

This nationwide campaign, launched under the guidance of the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare & Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, aims to empower farmers through region-specific agricultural technologies, sustainable practices, and inclusive policy feedback mechanisms. A major highlight of the event was the ceremonial flag-off of the Krishi Rath a mobile advisory unit designed to deliver timely, localized agricultural information to farmers in remote areas.

In his address, Shri Wangsu urged farmers to actively engage with the campaign, adopt new technologies, and benefit from government schemes. He also acknowledged the significant role played by ICAR and the State Agriculture Department in promoting sustainable agricultural development.

Dr. G. Kadirvel, Director, ICAR- Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone VI, emphasized the importance of disseminating advanced, region-specific technologies for the upcoming kharif season. He underlined the campaign's participatory approach, which integrates farmers' feedback into research and policymaking, supported by robust field-level monitoring.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the campaign will be implemented by ICAR-ATARI, Zone VI, covering 1,383 villages and reaching out to nearly 2 lakh farmers, with a focus on tribal and climate-vulnerable communities.

Thirty-four expert teams comprising scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and officials from allied departments will undertake extensive field visits to promote sustainable practices, encourage the use of Soil Health Cards, and raise awareness on key government schemes such as PM-KISAN and PMFBY. Real-time farmer feedback will be collected to inform future agricultural research and policy.

The Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan represents a significant step towards achieving self-reliant, sustainable, and inclusive agriculture, rooted in scientific innovation and local wisdom.

The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from MLAs, senior government officials, ICAR institute heads, agricultural university representatives, and over 300 farmers from across the region.

(Source: ICAR- Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone VI, Guwahati)