Meghalaya joins nationwide launch of Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan
Our Bureau
SHILLONG/JOWAI/WILLIAMNAGAR, May 29: Agriculture Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on Thursday urged the farming fraternity of Meghalaya to make the most of the nationwide campaign, Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA,) and enhance their agricultural practices through greater awareness, training and scientific support.
Launching the VKSA campaign at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Upper Shillong, Lyngdoh said the programme marks a significant national initiative to sensitise farmers ahead of the pre-kharif season. The campaign, which kicked off across India on Thursday, will continue till June 12.
Addressing the gathering, Lyngdoh encouraged farmers to participate wholeheartedly and use the opportunity to deepen their knowledge through interactions with agricultural scientists who will be visiting villages across all 11 blocks of the district.
She also suggested that farmers should consider aggregating their land holdings to project larger acreage and qualify for various government schemes.
Stressing the need for policies suited to Meghalaya’s unique agro-climatic conditions, Lyngdoh urged farmers to minimise the use of inorganic fertilisers and instead explore organic farming methods in collaboration with agricultural experts.
The event concluded with the flagging off of vehicles carrying teams of scientists, extension workers and officials from multiple departments to launch grassroots-level outreach.
Earlier, Director of Horticulture, BM Umlong, welcomed the chief guest and attendees, including officers, scientists, media personnel and farmers.
In West Jaintia Hills, the VKSA campaign was inaugurated by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Jaiñtia Hills, at Moopun Wahiajer.
Scientists and officials will now travel to villages across the district during the campaign period to train farmers in modern techniques, including drone use and proper fertiliser application.
The initiative aims to unify and modernise agricultural practices across the country.
Speaking at the event, Director of Agriculture J. Lyngdoh emphasised that the programme would benefit farmers significantly by easing their workload through machinery and technical training.
According to him, subsidies for tools like power tillers, as well as assistance in obtaining quality seeds, waste management equipment and bank loans, are also part of the government’s support package.
The event was coordinated by Dr. Alethea Dympep, with the welcome address delivered by LL Challam, Senior Scientist and Head of KVK.
In East Garo Hills, the VKSA was launched by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) during a programme which was attended by Soil and Water Conservation Minister Marcuise N Marak, Dean (in-charge), College of Community Science, Tura, Dr. Namita Singh, along with officials from allied departments.
During the launch event, Marak stressed the importance of preparing farmers for erratic climate conditions.
In his address, he called upon the scientific community to simplify complex knowledge and ensure that farmers fully understand contingency strategies for both excess and deficient rainfall, improved crop varieties and soil and water management practices.
The district-wide outreach saw nine villages covered in one day, with 1,432 farmers engaged through demonstrations, training, seed distribution and interactive sessions.
Farmers were urged to adopt sustainable farming practices, undergo soil health testing, and utilise advanced tools like agricultural drones—an introduction to AI-driven precision agriculture.
The highlight of the day was the farmer-scientist interaction session, aimed at bridging the gap between grassroots practices and scientific innovation.
It may be mentioned that the nationwide campaign, launched across the country under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, focuses on preparing farmers for the upcoming cropping season through knowledge-sharing and expert guidance.