Kochi, September 3 — Exciting news for farmers in Kerala! The Union Ministry of Agriculture is launching the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA), a new initiative to help farmers adapt to climate change and boost agricultural productivity. Running from October 3 to October 18, this two-week campaign will take place across 14 districts in Kerala.
The main focus of VKSA is to provide district-specific climate-smart advice to farmers. Experts say these advisories will guide farmers on how to manage water better, monitor pests and diseases, improve soil health, and develop eco-friendly bio-inputs. This approach aims to make farming more sustainable and resilient to climate challenges.
During a recent webinar organized by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), officials highlighted that besides climate change, farmers are also battling wild boars attacking crops, which is a growing threat to their livelihood.
The webinar was attended by representatives from the Union Ministry of Agriculture, Kerala’s departments of agriculture, fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairy development. Researchers from institutions like CMFRI, Kerala Agriculture University, Veterinary University, Fisheries University, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) also participated.
The campaign’s plan includes encouraging crop diversification across sectors, adopting new technologies, and fostering better collaboration between government agencies. It aims to bring together scientists, government officials, subject experts, and resource managers to address farmers’ problems effectively.
VKSA also aims to spread awareness about government schemes, share successful agricultural technologies, identify research needs, and document innovative ideas from farmers themselves. The benefits are expected to reach many areas connected to agriculture, such as plantation crops, food crops, fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairy farming.
Dr. Grinson George, director of CMFRI and VKSA’s Kerala nodal officer, said the main goal is to raise awareness about innovative farming techniques and identify practical issues directly from the field. The campaign will be a joint effort, with support from ICAR research institutes, state departments, agricultural universities, and district-level Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
This initiative promises to empower Kerala’s farmers with new knowledge and tools to face climate change and improve their farming methods.
