ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad Organises Awareness Programme on Khet Bachao Abhiyan

3 November 2026, Hyderabad

ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad organised an awareness programme on Khet Bachao Abhiyan in the Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav adopted villages at Hemajipur village, Balanagar mandal, Mahbubnagar district today.

The team explained the El Niño phenomenon and its implications for rainfall and temperature in the region, and discussed strategies to combat its impact. Under crop management, farmers were advised on timely sowing, selection of short-duration and drought-tolerant varieties, and contingency crop options suited to the available soil moisture.

The importance of in-situ soil moisture conservation practices such as conservation furrows, ridges and furrows, mulching and compartmental bunding was emphasised, along with shifting the cropping pattern towards less water-intensive crops and suitable intercropping systems for the rabi season.

The use of farm machinery for opening conservation furrows during sowing and intercultural operations was also discussed. Farmers were encouraged to adopt integrated nutrient management (INM) through the combined use of organic manures, biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers to sustain soil health and yields under moisture stress. The team also highlighted the benefits of forming Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) for collective input procurement, access to farm machinery and better market linkages.

A total of 25 participants attended the programme, including three women farmers.

(Source: ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad)