CAR-KVK Longleng has concluded the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA)-2025, a transformative grassroots campaign held from May 29 to June 12. Launched under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and guided by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the campaign aimed to empower farmers through scientific knowledge, sustainable practices, and inclusive agricultural strategies.
In Longleng district, the campaign was inaugurated in Longleng block with the gracious presence of Deputy Commissioner (DC) W Manpai Phom and concluded in Tamlu block under the leadership of ADC Tamlu Lankonsen Tsanglao.
Over the 14-day period, VKSA made a significant impact by directly reaching 16,847 farmers, including 9,279 men and 7,568 women. This massive outreach was achieved through a meticulously coordinated field plan. Three dedicated teams from ICAR-KVK Longleng operated simultaneously every day, each covering three villages daily, thus reaching nine villages per day and culminating in 109 field visits across the district, stated an official bulletin.
The first team was led by Shubhendu Kumar Behera, Subject Matter Specialist (Plant Protection), the second team led by Dr. Lily Ngullie, Subject Matter Specialist (Animal Science), and the third team was led by Dr. Kalu Ram, Subject Matter Specialist (Fruit Science). Their leadership and continuous field presence were instrumental in the campaign’s success. Active participation from different state government officials throughout the campaign further enriched the efforts, creating meaningful convergence and enhancing farmers’ access to schemes and services.
The campaign addressed a broad range of real-time agricultural and livestock issues. In agriculture, sessions focused on soil health testing, soil sample collection, balanced fertilizer use, and Soil Health Card utilization. Farmers were introduced to schemes like the National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO) and PM-KISAN, while also receiving practical solutions for crop issues such as pumpkin leaf yellowing, fall armyworm in maize, mango stone weevil, litchi fruit cracking, papaya seed germination failure, unfruitfulness in pomegranate, and Xanthoxylum sprouting problems.
Training on post-harvest handling and value addition was conducted to enhance income from litchi, oranges, and other local fruits. Nutrition and hygiene topics such as complementary baby food, safe home practices, and healthy diets were also emphasized, aligning agriculture with broader health and wellness goals.
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In the livestock sector, farmers learned about piggery management, swine flu, artificial insemination in cows, pregnancy detection, iron supplement overdose, mineral nutrition, insurance, and zoonotic diseases like rabies. They were introduced to schemes under the National Livestock Mission and Rainbow Rooster poultry farming.
The campaign also promoted climate-resilient technologies such as drip irrigation, mulching, and rainwater harvesting. Demonstrations on strawberry cultivation under drip systems and pomegranate orchard management attracted the attention of many progressive farmers and youth.
One of the strongest aspects of VKSA–2025 in Longleng was its participatory approach. Alongside training sessions, the teams recorded farmers’ problems, documented indigenous practices, and gathered suggestions that will inform future research and extension strategies creating a valuable feedback loop between science and society.
Dr. Hari Charan Kalita, Senior Scientist and Head of ICAR-KVK, Longleng expressed heartfelt appreciation to all stakeholders and emphasized the campaign’s long-term value: “Longleng district comprises numerous microclimatic zones, and during this campaign, we identified a wide range of researchable issues and real-time problems faced by farmers—many of which were previously undocumented. Most importantly, a large number of farmers were unaware of various government schemes and scientific interventions. This campaign has bridged that critical information gap. It truly embodied the spirit of ‘reaching the unreached’, and I believe the insights gathered will pave the way for location-specific solutions and meaningful future interventions.”
Dr. Homeswar Kalita, Head of ICAR-Nagaland Centre, also praised the initiative, stating, “Reports from the scientists who actively participated in the campaign clearly reflect a renewed commitment to bridge the gap between grassroots realities and scientific innovation. There is eagerness among researchers to translate field observations into actionable research, and to work closely with farmers to develop technologies and strategies that are practical, locally relevant, and scalable. The momentum generated by this campaign should now be sustained through collaborative, need-based research and farmer-centric extension.”
Strategic guidance throughout the campaign was provided by Dr. S. Hazarika, Director of ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, along with support from Dr. A. K. Mohanty, Director of ICAR-ATARI Zone VII, and Dr. A. Mishra, Vice Chancellor of CAU, Imphal. Their involvement brought institutional strength and continuity to the efforts in the field. District leaders including W. Manpai Phom and T. Mhabemo Tungoe applauded KVK Longleng’s relentless outreach and encouraged farmers to remain actively engaged with ICAR-KVK for future trainings and developmental support.
With the successful completion of VKSA–2025, ICAR-KVK Longleng reaffirms its commitment to “Taking Science to the Field”, ensuring that every farmer, no matter how remote, gains access to knowledge, resources, and innovations that can uplift their livelihoods and strengthen India’s agricultural resilience.
