Millennium imbibing Solemn Vow of Empowering Rural Sundarbans, under the flagship Vikshit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan.

On 6^th. June, 2025 – over 1,000 farmers from across the Sundarbans assembled at Joy Gopalpur and Nafarganj under the banner of the Vikshit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, a national campaign aimed at empowering rural communities through sustainable practices, scientific awareness, and farmer-first policies. The event was organised by ICAR-CIFRI in collaboration with Joy Gopalpur Gram Vikash Kendra and KVK, Narendrapur.

The programme commenced with the campaign’s theme song, setting an inspiring tone for the day dedicated to the exchange of knowledge, practical demonstrations, and community empowerment. At the Joy Gopalpur venue, the event featured a series of technical sessions focused on Kharif agricultural planning, soil health management, and inland fisheries development.

A key highlight of the programme was the in-depth session on climate-resilient agriculture and aquaculture, with a strong focus on innovative strategies tailored to the Sundarbans’ fragile and dynamic ecological landscape. The discussions emphasised the importance of seasonal farming cycles, adaptive inland fisheries management, and the urgent need for integrated approaches that can withstand the growing impacts of climate change.

Adding to the momentum, a vibrant interactive session provided a platform for fishers and farmers to share indigenous knowledge, articulate local challenges, and engage directly with scientists and experts. This grassroots-driven exchange fostered a participatory environment, strengthening trust and two-way communication between communities and scientists.

Simultaneously, a dedicated programme in Nafarganj brought together 300 farmers, who got engaged in dynamic discussions on integrated fish farming systems, soil-water interface management, and on ground problem solving techniques highlighting locally relevant innovations and resilience-building practices.

The event was graced by the presence of eminent dignitaries, including Dr. J. K. Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries), ICAR; Dr. B. K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore; Dr. Swagat Ghosh, Head, KVK, Narendrapur alongwith senior scientists from KVK and CIFRI, and other institutions who provided valuable technical insights and encouragement.

Dr. B. K. Das, Director reemphasised the objective of this campaign in briefing the differences between the land-lab-learning through accelerating the reciprocal learning between the scientists and the farmers.

While delivering a key statement, Dr. J. K. Jena reaffirmed CIFRI’s pursuit in providing all possible help in sustaining the culinary growth thereby catapulting the economic independence of the fishers & farmers.

The programme culminated in a collective pledge by the participants to adopt sustainable and climate resilient farming practices, reinforcing their commitment to ecological stewardship and community-led development. This marks a significant step forward in nurturing self-reliant, climate-aware livelihoods in one of India’s most ecologically sensitive yet resilient regions.

Team Maverick