KVK Howrah launches district drive linking soil health to farmer income
Howrah — Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Howrah, functioning under ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Kolkata, ceremonially launched the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan on 1 June with the participation of farmers, administrators, scientists and extension personnel. The programme seeks to prioritise soil-health management, sustainable practices and farmer awareness across the district.
The initiative was framed by officials as an integrated response to declining soil fertility, the need for resource-efficient farming and the national goal of linking soil health with food security and farmer prosperity. According to the event report, speakers underlined the role of soil-test based fertiliser application and organic inputs to restore productivity.
"Khet Bachao Abhiyan is a vital national initiative linking soil health with food security, farmer prosperity, environmental sustainability, and the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047," said Dr Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata, according to the programme record.
Shri Anupam Ghosh, MLA of Jagatballavpur assembly constituency, addressed the gathering and emphasised safeguarding agricultural land and soil health as essential for livelihoods and rural development. His intervention, as recorded by organisers, stressed raising farmer awareness, strengthening scientific guidance at the grassroots and promoting responsible input use to preserve soil productivity for future generations.
KVK and district agriculture officials outlined practical measures being promoted under the Abhiyan. Key recommended practices include soil test-based balanced fertiliser use, green manuring, vermicomposting and adoption of biofertilisers. Officials also linked the drive to ongoing central missions, urging farmers to consider pulses and oilseeds under the Pulses Mission and Oilseeds Mission to encourage crop diversification and improve profitability.
- Soil testing: Promotion of routine soil tests to determine nutrient requirements and avoid indiscriminate fertiliser use.
- Organic options: Green manuring, vermicompost and biofertilisers to enhance organic matter and soil biology.
- Crop diversification: Encouragement of pulses and oilseeds to improve soil health and farmer income.
Representatives from the district agriculture department attended the programme. The report names Dr Santosh Kumar Jana, Deputy Director of Agriculture (DDA), Howrah, the Assistant Director of Agriculture, Jagatballavpur Block, and the Assistant Director of Agriculture (Farm), Uluberia among other officials and KVK scientists and staff.
| Function | Representatives |
|---|---|
| KVK Howrah | Scientists, extension staff |
| ICAR-ATARI Kolkata | Dr Pradip Dey (Director) |
| Local administration | Anupam Ghosh (MLA), DDA Howrah, ADAs |
Officials at the event reiterated the need for stronger convergence among departments, improved extension outreach and farmer-centric knowledge dissemination. They argued that sustained adoption of climate-resilient and resource-efficient practices would strengthen smallholder resilience in the face of changing weather patterns and rising input costs.
For Howrah's largely peri-urban and rural farming areas — including pockets of paddy, vegetable and vegetable seed production — renewed attention to soil health could alter input strategies for many growers. Experts at the launch said that routine soil testing and targeted nutrient application would not only limit unnecessary expenditure on fertilisers but also lessen long-term soil degradation.
Programme documents accompanying the launch stressed that the Abhiyan is not only a technical intervention but also an awareness campaign. Activities planned by KVK Howrah include field demonstrations, farmer trainings, distribution of information material on balanced fertilisation and hands-on sessions on preparation and use of vermicompost and biofertilisers.
Local farmers and extension workers present at the KVK programme welcomed the focus on soil health. While acknowledging current challenges such as small landholdings and market uncertainties, several participants said structured scientific support at the village level and demonstration plots could help accelerate adoption of the recommended practices.
KVK Howrah will now implement follow-up activities under the Khet Bachao Abhiyan over the coming months, coordinating with block-level agriculture offices and community-level stakeholders to broaden reach across the district.
