REASI, Jun 28: Farmers across Reasi district have extended an enthusiastic response to the Khet Bachao Abhiyan (KBA), a 30-day awareness campaign being spearheaded by the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu through the Krishi Vigyan Kendra Reasi.
A series of awareness programmes were organised in different parts of the district with active participation from farmers, farm women, rural youth, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Panchayati Raj Institution representatives, and other stakeholders.
The campaign is being conducted under the guidance of Vice Chancellor Prof. B.N. Tripathi and Director Extension Prof. Amrish Vaid of SKUAST-J. It aims to empower the farming community by promoting balanced use of fertilizers, organic and natural farming, green manuring, soil health management, and other sustainable agricultural practices. The initiative also seeks to create awareness about modern farming technologies and various Central and UT government schemes to enhance agricultural productivity and ensure long-term sustainability.
Addressing the participants, Dr. Banarsi Lal, Chief Scientist and Head, KVK Reasi, highlighted the importance of maintaining soil health through scientific nutrient management and efficient farming practices. He encouraged farmers to adopt organic and natural farming methods to reduce cultivation costs while improving the quality of agricultural produce. He also stressed the need for commercial farming and scientific cultivation techniques for Kharif crops, stating that integrated nutrient management can significantly increase crop yields and farm income.
Dr. Sudhir Singh Jamwal, Scientist, KVK Reasi, spoke on climate-resilient agriculture and urged farmers to adopt innovative agricultural and horticultural practices to maximize returns. He emphasized the importance of soil testing and encouraged farmers to avail the benefits of the Soil Health Card Scheme for balanced fertilizer application and improved soil fertility.
Rakesh Kundal, FPO Development Officer, Reasi, informed farmers about the role of SHGs and FPOs in strengthening the rural economy. He also created awareness about various government schemes, including JKCIP, HADP, PM-KISAN, Kisan Credit Card (KCC), and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), urging farmers to take full advantage of these initiatives to improve productivity and increase their incomes.
The programmes also featured interactive farmer-scientist sessions where participants raised queries related to agriculture and horticulture, which were addressed by the experts. On-the-spot technical guidance was also provided for resolving field-level problems. Sarpanches and Panches from the participating villages attended the programmes, lending support to the campaign, which continues to receive an overwhelming response from the farming community across Reasi district.