ICAR-CIARI, KVK South Andaman and Department of Agriculture Organizes Khet Bachao Abhiyan Programme at Mannarghat

18 June 2026, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

A field-level awareness and farmer-scientist interaction programme under the banner "Khet Bachao Abhiyan" was successfully organized today at the Gram Panchayat Hall, Mannarghat. The initiative was jointly organized by ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), South Andaman, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, the Department of Agriculture, and UT-ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency).

The Chief Guest, Smt. Sajida Banu, Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Mannarghat, commended the collaborative efforts of KVK, CIARI, the Department of Agriculture, and UT-ATMA. She noted that such grassroots-level, multi-agency interventions are instrumental in empowering rural communities by delivering scientific expertise directly to the field.

The keynote address emphasized the vital link between soil health and human well-being, urging the farming community to adopt sustainable soil management practices to maintain long-term land productivity.The discussion on land conservation highlighted the urgent need to prevent soil erosion and promote sustainable measures to protect fertile topsoil for future agricultural use.

Participants were also informed about the various bio-inputs available at government depots, along with guidance on their proper application. Information was shared about the newly inaugurated Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) at Chouldari, encouraging farmers to make use of its machinery and services to enhance agricultural productivity.

The session on integrated farming systems underscored the importance of dairy farming as a key component of sustainable agriculture. It was explained that integrating livestock with farming systems supports natural and organic farming practices through the effective use of organic manure.

The event drew active participation from 30 local progressive farmers, including 23 men and 7 women, providing them a direct platform to address critical agricultural challenges with domain experts.

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