‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ Launched at OUAT, Bhubaneswar

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the ”Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA)’ on Thursday. The goal of this campaign is to transform Indian farming with the help of science and technology. It was launched in Sakshigopal, Puri (Odisha) and later at the ICAR-CIFA centre in Bhubaneswar.

Main Aim of teh VKSA Campaign

The VKSA campaign aims to make India the ”food basket of the world.” It focuses on connecting scientists directly with farmers, so they can share better farming methods. This supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of taking science from ”Lab to Land” and building a Developed India.

How the Campaign will Work?

From May 29 to June 12, scientists will travel to over 700 districts across the country. They will:

• Meet around 1.5 crore farmers
• Teach new farming methods
• Collect feedback from the field

This is the first time such a large-scale effort is happening in India.

Support from the Government

Minister Chouhan said that the government will fully support this campaign. There will be no shortage of funds for agriculture research. He told scientists that visiting villages is a service to the nation’s farmers (Annadatas).

Message to Farmers and Scientists

Chouhan requested farmers to talk to scientists, learn about new techniques, and use better seeds for higher crop production. He thanked ICAR scientists for developing improved seed varieties.

Focus on Fisheries Sector

At ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneshwar, Chouhan spoke about the importance of fisheries. He said a strong fisheries sector can increase farmers’ income and food security.

He launched a new fish vaccine, ‘CIFA Argu VAX-I,’ developed by ICAR-CIFA. This vaccine will protect fish from diseases and reduce losses for fish farmers.

Creating India’s Progress in Agriculture

Minister Chouhan shared that India has produced 3,539.59 lakh metric tonnes of food grains this year, which is 216.61 lakh tonnes more than last year. He said India can now feed all its 145 crore people.

A Symbolic Start from Puri

The campaign began from Puri, the holy land of Lord Jagannath. Chouhan said this gave a special spiritual meaning to the mission. Before launching the campaign, he visited the Jagannath Temple, took part in a Tiranga Yatra, and planted trees to show commitment to sustainability and national pride.