ICAR-IISWC VKSA-2025 Workshop: Discussion on research issues and strategies along with sharing of experiences

ICAR-IISWC VKSA-2025 Workshop
Dehradun, 20 June 2025

The ICAR–Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (ICAR-IISWC), Dehradun, organized an experience-sharing workshop on Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA)-2025 on 20 June 2025. This workshop reviewed the activities conducted between 29 May and 12 June 2025. The event provided a vital platform for scientists, field coordinators, and research teams from the institute’s eight regional centres—Agra, Ballari, Chandigarh, Datia, Koraput, Kota, Udhagamandalam, and Vasad—along with the Dehradun headquarters, to assess VKSA implementation and identify research-worthy issues and future strategies.

Director’s Address: Focus on Ground-Level Insights

While inaugurating the workshop, Dr. M. Madhu, Director of ICAR-IISWC, emphasized that the VKSA initiative has offered a remarkable opportunity to strengthen the institute’s engagement with farming communities across diverse agro-climatic zones. He underlined the importance of converting grassroots experiences into researchable insights and policy inputs.

Dr. Bankey Bihari, National Coordinator for VKSA at ICAR-IISWC, welcomed all participants and outlined the workshop agenda, setting the tone for discussion.

Objectives and Significance of the Workshop

Workshop coordinator and Principal Scientist Dr. M. Muruganandam stated that this workshop served as a major opportunity to align experiences across centers, refine implementation strategies, and explore innovations for future initiatives. He highlighted the importance of experience-sharing for shaping policy, building capacity, and promoting farmer-centric agricultural transformation.

Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA)-2025: An Overview

VKSA-2025 is a flagship national initiative of the Government of India aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural development through locally appropriate and participatory approaches. In alignment with VKSA’s objectives, ICAR-IISWC is implementing a wide range of initiatives across its regional centers, focusing on soil and water conservation, sustainable practices for Kharif crops, livelihood enhancement, and empowerment of women, particularly among small and marginal farmers.

Experience Sharing and Key Findings

During the workshop, heads of centers, field teams, and nodal officers shared their implementation experiences, success stories, field-level innovations, and challenges faced. These accounts revealed diverse strategies adopted across agro-climatic zones—such as promotion of integrated farming systems, location-specific natural resource management, and dissemination of advanced agricultural technologies.

Discussions also helped identify policy guidelines and research priorities to guide future initiatives.

Key Policy Issues and Research Priorities

Key policy themes included:

• Development and sharing of a centralized technical database

• Strengthening community-based extension systems through regular interaction between scientists and farmers

• Addressing the growing issue of human-wildlife conflict in agriculture

• Regulating input quality and distribution

• Establishing regional agricultural call centers for timely advice

• Moving from target-based to need-based input distribution systems

• Promoting value addition and market linkages

• Introducing agricultural literacy in school curricula

In the research domain, emphasis was placed on:

• Developing alternative land use models suited to specific agro-climatic conditions and resource constraints

• Innovating sustainable deterrent technologies to mitigate wildlife conflict

• Formulating integrated pest and disease management practices for crops like maize, turmeric, ginger, and colocasia

• Designing efficient water harvesting and irrigation systems

Positive Impact and Future Outlook

Field implementation feedback underscored the positive impacts of VKSA initiatives, including:

• Increased crop productivity

• Reduced soil erosion

• Improved water use efficiency

• Better market access through value-added agricultural products

These outcomes demonstrate the potential of VKSA-2025 to contribute meaningfully to the national goals of self-reliant agriculture and Viksit Bharat@2047.

Workshop Conclusion and Way Forward

The workshop concluded with unanimous agreement on the future course of action, emphasizing documentation, policy support, and dissemination of validated models and technologies. In the closing session, Er. S.S. Shrimali, Senior Scientist, summarized the key takeaways and extended gratitude for the active participation of all contributors.

Approximately 100 participants, including 50 who joined online, actively took part in the workshop, comprising scientists, technical officers, and coordinators from across the country.