Tuesday, 17 June 2025
In a major push toward promoting sustainable and modern agricultural practices, the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI) has connected with more than 78,000 farmers across 13 districts in West Bengal under the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, a 15-day nationwide campaign launched on May 29, 2025.
Aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, the campaign aims to transform India into a developed nation by 2047 by accelerating adoption of innovative, climate-resilient, and profitable farming systems. As part of the effort, nearly 2,000 teams comprising agricultural scientists, officials, and progressive farmers are visiting villages across India to deliver hands-on advisories and training.
In West Bengal, CIFRI—in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)—has reached 78,076 farmers, including 46,398 men and 31,678 women, across 290 villages in districts such as South 24 Parganas, Birbhum, Murshidabad, Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, and Darjeeling, among others.
CIFRI began its campaign from Kumli wetland in Nadia district, where Director Dr. B. K. Das engaged with over 200 local fishers. The institute focused on delivering pre-Kharif advisory services, crucial for both crop and aquaculture preparedness in the April–June period.
Farmers received guidance on land preparation, seed treatment, crop planning, and aquaculture techniques such as pond de-siltation, liming, and selection of quality fingerlings. Best practices in water quality management, disease surveillance, and balanced feeding were also shared. Leaflets in local languages were distributed, and several farmers were assisted with on-the-spot registration on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP).
The initiative also included interactive sessions, where CIFRI collected feedback on existing practices and documented grassroots innovations for future research consideration.
“This campaign is a critical step toward empowering farmers with timely, science-based advisory services to boost productivity and resilience,” said Dr. Das. “Our goal is to ensure sustainable aquaculture and farming systems that contribute meaningfully to India’s food and nutritional security.”
By integrating scientific research with ground-level outreach, CIFRI’s campaign is helping shape a more informed, connected, and future-ready farming community in West Bengal.
