CIFRI’s Massive Farmer Outreach in West Bengal Under Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan

The Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA), a focused 15day campaign was launched on May 29, 2025, with the aim to accelerate the adoption of modern, sustainable, and profitable agricultural practices across India. This initiative aligns with broader national goals like ‘Viksit Bharat@2047’, which envisions a developed India by 2047.

Agriculture plays a crucial role in ensuring food security, employment, and rural development. Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, a flagship Farmer Awareness & Outreach Campaign, involving about 2,000 teams of agricultural scientists, officials, and progressive farmers visiting villages daily across India.

Under the VKSA 2025, ICAR-CIFRI have rendered a major thrust, along with the respective district KVKs, in reaching out to 78,076 farmers (46398 male and 31678 female) covering thirteen districts namely South 24 parganas, Birbhum, Murshidabad, Hooghly, Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, Nadia, Burdwan, Uttar Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Kalimpong and Darjeeling including 290 villages in West Bengal.

CIFRI had commenced its journey under “Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan” on 29^th of May, 2025 from the Kumli wetland situated in Nadia district of West Bengal. His good-self Dr. B. K. Das, Director of CIFRI upon reaching the wetland had interacted closely with more than 200 fishers. The massive campaign was carried out with active collaboration with KVKs and progressive farmers in providing pre-Kharif advisory to the farmers. The pre-Kharif season (April–June) in West Bengal is a critical period for land preparation, seed treatment, and crop planning, directly influencing the success of the Kharif season. These advisory aims to guide farmers on timely and region-specific practices to enhance productivity and climate resilience.

The pre-Kharif period is equivocally crucial for fish farmers in West Bengal in preparing for aquacultural systems for the forth coming monsoon season. This advisory lays emphasis on pond fish preparation through de-siltation, liming, etc. Fisheries related advisories pertinent to the selection of quality fingerlings from certified hatcheries in lieu of stocking, optimal stocking, densities based on pond size and species, water quality management, balanced feed, disease surveillance were provided. 

Leaflets in local languages were distributed amongst the farmers, along with providing a detailed insight on the various schemes (both State & Central Government) were exercised. Many fish farmers were guided to accomplish on-spot registration at National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP).

Dr. B.K. Das, Director of ICAR-CIFRI, highlighted the success of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan in the fisheries sector, stating “The campaign has been instrumental in bridging the gap between scientific advancements and grassroots fish farming. By directly engaging with farmers, we have identified key challenges and provided practical solutions to enhance productivity and sustainability in inland fisheries”.

The participating farmers & fishers felt revered in providing feedback’s regarding their existing package of practices. Farm innovations by the farmers were also documented.

This would facilitate ICAR-CIFRI scientists to prepare a road map in manifesting research work in coming years. This comprehensive pre-Kharif preparedness will help to boost productivity, reduce risk and promote sustainable aquaculture practices across the state.

Team Maverick