ICAR-CIARI, Sri Vijaya Puram Organises Awareness Programme on Sustainable Agriculture under Khet Bachao Abhiyan at Hope Town

25 June 2026, Sri Vijaya Puram

An Awareness Programme under the Khet Bachao Abhiyan was successfully organized at the Hope Town Gram Panchayat Hall today by ICAR–Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), South Andaman, UT-ATMA, and the Directorate of Agriculture, Andaman & Nicobar Administration. The programme commenced with an interactive session aimed at enhancing farmers' knowledge on sustainable agricultural practices and addressing key challenges in crop production.

The participants were provided with a lecture on Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) and improved agronomic practices for vegetable and plantation crops. Farmers also had the opportunity to interact with the experts and discuss field-level issues and challenges.

A session on scientific vegetable cultivation practices suitable for the agro-climatic conditions of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands highlighted improved production technologies aimed at enhancing crop productivity and profitability.An informative lecture on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in vegetable and plantation crops emphasized eco-friendly and sustainable approaches for effective pest and disease management.

Participants were sensitized to the adverse effects of the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and were encouraged to adopt balanced nutrient management and environmentally safe agricultural practices.

The participants were also briefed on various farmer welfare schemes being implemented by the Department of Agriculture and informed about the availability of quality agricultural inputs through departmental depots.

An open interaction session provided farmers with an opportunity to discuss their production constraints and seek technical guidance from the experts. The organizers reaffirmed their commitment to conducting similar awareness programmes across the islands to promote sustainable farming practices, improve soil health, and enhance the livelihoods of the farming community.

The programme was attended by 20 farmers from the surrounding villages.

(Source: ICAR–Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman & Nicobar Islands)