‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ echoes from Almora to Chamoli; Over 3,000 farmers find a new direction for sustainable and modern farming

30 June 2026, Almora

The nationwide 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan', proposed by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, was conducted across the country by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, from June 1 to June 30, 2026. The objective of this month-long nationwide campaign was to improve soil health and make agriculture sustainable.

In this sequence, under the efficient leadership and guidance of Dr Lakshmi Kant, Director, ICAR-VPKAS, various programs were organized in different villages of Almora, Nainital, Bageshwar, and Chamoli districts during June 1–30, 2026, under the ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ conducted by the ICAR–Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora.

The purpose of these programs was to create awareness among farmers about sustainable agricultural practices, soil health management, balanced fertilizer use, integrated nutrient management, and government-supported agricultural development schemes.

The primary objective of this campaign was to make hill farmers aware of 'sustainable agriculture' and introduce them to the benefits of scientific farming. The institute's scientists placed special emphasis on soil health management, balanced fertilizer use, and integrated nutrient management. Farmers were encouraged to adopt environment-friendly alternatives such as farmyard manure, compost, vermicompost, and bio-fertilizers instead of the indiscriminate use of chemicals.

During the interactive sessions held throughout the campaign, farmers shared serious issues such as damage caused by wildlife (monkeys, wild boars, bears, peacocks), infestations of the white grub (Kurmula) pest, diseases in crops like wilt and aphids, lack of irrigation, and the unavailability of quality seeds. Scientists provided practical suggestions to address these problems, including the use of VL light traps and Bacillus-based bio-agents for crop protection; focusing on high-value crops less prone to damage by wild animals, such as ginger, turmeric, and asafoetida, under alternative farming; demonstrating low-cost, locally adaptable farming techniques for farm management; and promoting the implementation of government schemes at the grassroots level.

The ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ was not limited to technical training alone; it took information about government schemes to every household. Detailed information was provided to farmers about schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, Kisan Credit Card, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil Health Card, grants for farm mechanization, beekeeping, and the Kiwi Mission. Farmers were also encouraged to get a 'Kisan ID' made so that they could avail of government benefits in an easy and transparent manner.

This campaign conducted by the institute has not only become a program for spreading awareness but has also acted as a new bridge for technical training, farm-level demonstrations, and resource management. This initiative by the institute is a decisive step toward improving livelihoods in hilly areas and making agriculture a profitable business, which will play a significant role in transforming the landscape of hill agriculture in the future.

A total of 3,025 farmers participated in these programs, including 1,616 women farmers.

(Source: ICAR–Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora)