Sri Vijaya Puram, October 22: With soil fertility and cultivation costs central to sustainable agriculture, the South Andaman Agriculture Department has launched a district-level campaign to encourage farmers to reduce indiscriminate chemical fertilizer use and adopt soil-test-based nutrient management practices.
The Khet Bachao Abhiyan, scheduled from October 22 to 30, was inaugurated at the Zonal Agriculture Office, South Andaman, alongside the Rabi Campaign. The Department of Agriculture and ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), South Andaman, organised the programme in association with UT-ATMA.
Director of Agriculture Debabrata Basantia said the Government of India had initiated the campaign to promote balanced fertilizer application, improve soil health, encourage water conservation and harvesting, and increase the adoption of natural farming methods.
He advised farmers to follow Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) practices rather than rely excessively on chemical fertilizers. According to Basantia, such measures could help maintain soil fertility while reducing cultivation expenses.
KVK South Andaman Head Y. Ramakrishna explained the importance of soil testing in determining fertilizer requirements. He urged farmers to follow recommendations recorded in their Soil Health Cards instead of applying fertilizers without assessing soil conditions.
Ramakrishna also discussed soil and water conservation techniques and the role of natural farming in sustainable agricultural production.
The Assistant Director of Agriculture, South Andaman, outlined the campaign’s activity calendar, which covers all blocks in the district.
An Assistant Director of Agriculture representing ATMA called for wider adoption of scientific farming methods to protect standing crops and improve agricultural productivity. The Agriculture Officer, South Andaman, also addressed participants.
The inaugural programme brought together 60 participants, including farmers, Farmer Friends, departmental officers and ATMA functionaries.
The campaign will focus on promoting agricultural practices that support soil conservation, efficient nutrient use and sustainable crop production during the implementation period.
