Mayabunder, October 24: Farmers in North and Middle Andaman were sensitised to soil conservation, balanced fertiliser use and water management during a district-level launch programme under the Khet Bachao Abhiyan at Gram Panchayat Rampur.
The programme was organised by the Department of Agriculture, Mayabunder, and UT-ATMA in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Nimbudera. Held at the Rampur Panchayat Hall, the initiative sought to encourage farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and safeguard the natural resources on which cultivation depends.
The campaign focused on the importance of maintaining soil health, applying fertilisers judiciously, conserving water and improving farming practices. These measures are relevant to agricultural sustainability because the productivity of farmland depends not only on inputs such as fertilisers but also on soil condition, water availability and the way land is managed over time.
Krishna Chaitanya, Additional District Magistrate of North and Middle Andaman, and Mohd. Yunus, Block Development Officer, Mayabunder, addressed participants during the programme. Both urged farmers to take an active role in the campaign and adopt responsible farming methods to protect soil health, conserve natural resources and support sustainable agricultural development.
Ananda Rajan, Up-Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Rampur, also attended the event.
A technical session was conducted by Dr. Manoj Kumar, Subject Matter Specialist at KVK, Nimbudera. He provided information on the objectives, key components and implementation strategies of the Khet Bachao Abhiyan, helping participants understand the campaign’s focus and the practical steps associated with its implementation.
The programme also highlighted the importance of water conservation. Shamna Salam, Agriculture Officer, Mayabunder, spoke about improving soil health, conserving water resources and promoting rainwater harvesting.
Rainwater harvesting can support the collection and storage of water for appropriate uses and help farmers manage rainfall more effectively. Its usefulness depends on local conditions, storage arrangements and the needs of individual farms. Combined with attention to soil health and careful use of agricultural inputs, water-management practices can form part of a broader approach to sustainable cultivation.
The emphasis on judicious fertiliser application is also significant. The campaign encouraged farmers to consider the responsible use of agricultural inputs rather than treating fertiliser application as a substitute for sound soil management. Maintaining soil quality is central to sustaining agricultural productivity over successive growing seasons.
The involvement of the Agriculture Department, UT-ATMA, KVK and local administration brought together agricultural extension and district-level officials for the programme. Such coordination can help communicate technical information to farming communities and encourage the adoption of recommended practices.
The launch at Rampur forms part of efforts to raise awareness of farming practices that protect land and water resources. However, the programme announcement did not specify targets for farmer participation, the number of villages to be covered, financial assistance or a timeline for follow-up activities.
The effectiveness of the campaign will depend on whether the information shared during the launch reaches farmers beyond the meeting and translates into changes in day-to-day cultivation. Continued technical guidance, local demonstrations and monitoring of adoption could help farmers apply the principles discussed during the programme.
The Khet Bachao Abhiyan launch in Rampur placed soil health, water conservation and responsible input use at the centre of the district’s agricultural awareness effort, with officials urging farmers to take an active role in protecting the resources that sustain cultivation.
