Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, officially launched the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA-2025) today, May 29, 2025, from Sakhigopal in Odisha’s Puri district. Over the next 15 days, the Minister will travel across nearly 20 states to promote this transformative initiative, reinforcing the government’s commitment to building a self-reliant and resilient agricultural sector.
In his address, Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized the campaign's core principle of two-way communication. While scientists will share technical knowledge and innovative solutions with farmers, they will also listen to the farmers’ on-ground challenges. This dialogue will help in shaping region-specific innovations and guiding future research efforts. He also highlighted the crucial role of the fisheries sector in ensuring food security and rural livelihoods, urging that technologies developed by ICAR-CIFA must be effectively disseminated to farmers to enhance income and resilience.
To ensure the success of VKSA-2025, a nationwide network of more than 16,000 scientists and agricultural experts has been mobilized. These teams will visit two villages daily, conducting hands-on sessions with farmers and providing tailored guidance based on local agro-climatic conditions.
The campaign aims to reach over 1.5 crore farmers across 700 districts, promoting modern agricultural practices, sustainable techniques, and advanced technologies. Through a structured, grassroots-level outreach, scientists and field experts will engage with farmers directly, not only to educate but also to gather feedback that will inform future research and agricultural policy decisions.
As part of this campaign, 2,170 expert teams, each comprising at least four members—will travel to more than 65,000 villages across 723 districts. These teams include professionals from ICAR institutes, agricultural universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). They will hold three meetings per day in various villages, covering a wide range of topics such as crop selection, improved seed varieties, soil and water management, natural farming practices, and the cultivation of pulses and oilseeds.
The inauguration ceremony took place at the ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar, and was graced by several eminent dignitaries. Among them were Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Fisheries Minister Gokulananda Mallik, MLAs Babu Singh and At Pattanayak, along with senior officials from ICAR, including Director General Dr. M.L. Jat, Deputy Director Generals Dr. J.K. Jena and Dr. Rajbir Singh. All officials voiced strong support for the campaign, calling it a much-needed initiative for accelerating agricultural transformation in India.
Odisha’s Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi lauded the VKSA-2025 as a groundbreaking movement to spread awareness among farmers about advanced farming techniques and new seed innovations.
Dr. M.L. Jat described the campaign as a pre-Kharif initiative that directly connects cutting-edge research with the realities faced by farmers, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat.
A highlight of the launch was the release of “CIFA Argu VAX–I,” a new fish vaccine developed by ICAR-CIFA to combat parasitic infections in aquaculture. This innovation is expected to significantly reduce economic losses in the fisheries sector, improve fish health management and support rural livelihoods.
More than 600 farmers, including many women from Self Help Groups, participated in the interactive sessions with scientists, gaining hands-on knowledge about sustainable farming practices and aquaculture techniques. An exhibition was also organized, showcasing agricultural innovations from SHGs, KVK Khordha, and ICAR-CIFA, reflecting grassroots participation in the campaign.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan has urged citizens and state governments to come together and ensure the success of VKSA-2025. Running until June 12, the initiative aims to engage 10 to 12 lakh farmers daily through extensive field outreach and region-specific support.
