Sri Vijaya Puram, June 2: The Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) and ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), South Andaman, has launched a series of awareness and field demonstration programmes across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as part of the nationwide “Khet Bachao Abhiyan”.
The month-long campaign, being conducted from June 1 to June 30, aims to promote sustainable agricultural practices, improve soil health and encourage the scientific use of fertilizers and other farm inputs. The initiative forms part of a nationwide effort to educate farmers about balanced nutrient management and climate-resilient farming techniques.
As part of the campaign, programmes were organised at Collinpur and Namunaghar villages in South Andaman, where farmers were sensitised on issues ranging from soil health management to water conservation and scientific crop nutrition practices.
Officials said the campaign seeks to address growing concerns about the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers, which can degrade soil quality, reduce long-term productivity and increase cultivation costs. Through demonstrations and awareness activities, farmers are being encouraged to adopt balanced fertilizer application based on soil testing and scientific recommendations.
Technical experts participating in the programme highlighted the importance of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), which combines organic and inorganic nutrient sources to maintain soil fertility and improve crop yields. Farmers were also introduced to the benefits of green manure, bio-fertilizers and organic inputs that can help reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers while enhancing soil productivity.
The campaign places significant emphasis on soil testing, which enables farmers to determine nutrient deficiencies and apply fertilizers more efficiently. Officials noted that excessive or unscientific fertilizer use not only affects crop performance but can also lead to environmental degradation and contamination of water resources.
Participants were also trained in soil sample collection methods, weather-based crop advisories and water conservation practices. Experts explained how climate variability is increasingly influencing agricultural production and stressed the need for adaptive farming strategies that can withstand changing weather conditions.
Beyond technical training, the awareness sessions included information on major government schemes available to farmers. Officials briefed participants about the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), Kisan Credit Card (KCC) programme and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), which provide financial assistance, institutional credit and crop insurance coverage to cultivators.
The campaign is also aligned with broader efforts to promote natural farming and environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. Through field demonstrations, farmers are being shown practical methods of improving soil organic matter, conserving resources and reducing input costs without compromising productivity.
Representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions, Farmer Friends, ATMA functionaries and local farmers participated in the programmes. Officials said the involvement of grassroots institutions is essential for ensuring wider dissemination of scientific farming practices and encouraging adoption at the village level.
Agriculture authorities have planned similar awareness drives, training sessions and demonstration activities throughout June across all blocks of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The programmes are expected to reach a large number of farmers and support efforts to improve agricultural sustainability in the Union Territory.
Officials expressed hope that the campaign would encourage farmers to adopt evidence-based nutrient management practices, strengthen soil health and improve long-term agricultural productivity. With soil quality increasingly recognised as a key factor in food security and sustainable farming, the Khet Bachao Abhiyan is being viewed as an important initiative to promote responsible agricultural practices and safeguard the future of farming in the Islands.
