KVK Kinnaur Launches Month-Long ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ across 42 Locations
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SOLAN JUNE 4
Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kinnaur, under the aegis of Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, has launched a month-long district-wide awareness campaign, ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan-2026’, aimed at promoting sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. The campaign is part of a nationwide initiative being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and will continue until June 30.
The campaign was formally launched from the high-altitude villages of Nako and Spillow in Pooh block, reflecting the commitment to reaching even the remotest farming communities with scientific and sustainable agricultural practices.
Dr. Pramod Sharma, Associate Director (Research) and Head, KVK Kinnaur, along with Dr. Shamsher Singh, Deputy Director of Horticulture, and Dr. Ramesh Lal, Project Director, ATMA, constituted two multidisciplinary teams comprising KVK scientists Dr. DP Bhandari (Plant Pathologist), Dr. Arun Kumar (Fruit Scientist), Dr. Budhi Ram (Entomologist), and Dr. Deepika (Fruit Scientist), along with officials from the Departments of Horticulture and Agriculture (ATMA).
Dr. Sharma informed that the campaign will cover 42 locations across the three development blocks of Kinnaur district. Through training programmes, farmer-scientist interactions, field demonstrations and awareness activities, the campaign seeks to disseminate scientific recommendations and encourage the adoption of sustainable farming practices among farmers in far-flung areas of the district.
During the first phase of the campaign, awareness programmes, group discussions and field demonstrations were organized in Nako and Spillow villages. Farmers were sensitized about the adverse effects of indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and the importance of soil test-based nutrient management. Scientists highlighted the benefits of natural farming, integrated nutrient management and eco-friendly agricultural technologies for maintaining soil health, enhancing productivity and improving farm profitability.
Dr. D.P. Sharma, Director of Extension Education of the University, said that the campaign represents an important step towards promoting sustainable mountain agriculture by integrating scientific knowledge with environmental conservation and farmer welfare. He added that similar month-long awareness and outreach programmes under the ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan-2026’ have also been initiated by the University’s Krishi Vigyan Kendras at Solan, Shimla, Chamba and Tabo.
The campaign is expected to create greater awareness among farmers about sustainable agricultural practices and contribute towards long-term soil health, environmental sustainability and enhanced livelihood security in the Himalayan region.
