Based on farmers’ responses, the Centre has identified some solutions such as developing a single window system for delivery of all agri services, inputs, schemes, and grievance redressal for Odisha, West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. As many as 18.5 lakh farmers from these states and UT had given their responses to the Centre through a 15-day campaign launched by Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

In a presentation before Chouhan at the review meeting on the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA), deputy director general (fisheries) of India Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) J K Jena said, in the short-term, there is a need to promote low-input and high-value crops. This should be done while simultaneously ensuring that quality seeds are available to the farmers of field crops and horticulture crops as well as those engaged in livestock and aquaculture.

Among other short term measures recommended by ICAR were integration of agro-tourism for sustainable rural livelihoods, launch of micro-FLDs (Front-Line Demonstrations) and diagnostic trials on key crops, and enhancing farmers’ skills in new farming systems & technologies through training and demonstration.

Jena, who was also the nodal officer for the two states and the union territory for the VKSA campaign, suggested strengthening agriculture’s convergence with MGNREGA and National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), facilitation of women-led SHGs as agri-entrepreneur service units. He also suggested promotion of mini-processing units, their branding, and establishing the market linkages as medium-term initiatives.

As a long-term plan, he said District Agri-Innovation Hubs with incubators for youth/startups need to be set up. He has also recommended promoting bio-village clusters based on carbon-neutral technologies.

A total of 200 teams – 92 in Odisha, 91 in West Bengal and 17 in Andaman & Nicobar Islands – had covered 17,199 villages to inform farmers about the latest technologies available and the best practices to improve productivity and their income. The teams also had collected feedback from farmers.

Listing farmers’ expectations from research institutes, he said in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, they want ICAR to work on low-input, sustainable farming systems, access to farm machinery (for smallholders), agri-enterprise development, and agro-tourism. In West Bengal, farmers sought timely availability of quality seeds and healthy planting materials (for horticulture crops), and nano-fertilizers. They also demanded essential inputs such as irrigation pipes, sprayers, and eco-friendly plant protection measures to be made available at subsidised rates. Also, farmers in the flood-prone, waterlogged, and stress-affected areas demanded alternative crops and farming models.

In aquaculture, they requested the visiting teams for poly-lined ponds, short-cycle high-value fish culture, low-cost fish feed, and revival of derelict water bodies.

In Odisha, Jena said, precision irrigation, development of groundwater recharge structures, farm pond linings, and rainwater harvesting models, location-specific Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) combining crops, livestock, fisheries, horticulture, and mushroom units are what farmers suggested the government offer them through some schemes. There was also demand for women-friendly and easy-to-operate farm implements.

Published on June 26, 2025