VKSA campaign launched in Meghalaya to empower farmers ahead of kharif season

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 30, 2025

Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ampareen Lyngdoh on Thursday launched the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA) at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Upper Shillong, East Khasi Hills. The initiative aims to create awareness among farmers on pre-Kharif activities and promote sustainable farming practices.

Officials from the Agriculture, Horticulture, and Animal Husbandry departments, along with scientists from ICAR and CAU, participated in the event. Addressing farmers, Lyngdoh encouraged active participation and urged them to interact with agricultural scientists who will be visiting all 11 blocks in the district. She also stressed land aggregation to avail government schemes and highlighted the importance of policies suited to Meghalaya’s unique terrain.

Farmers were urged to minimize chemical use and adopt natural farming methods using compost and latest technologies. The event concluded with the flagging off of awareness vehicles carrying teams of experts and extension workers to various villages.

VKSA held in West Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi

Similar programmes were held in West Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts. In Jaintia Hills, Director of Agriculture JC Lyngdoh inaugurated the campaign, which aims to reach 736 villages with the help of ICAR and CAU scientists. The campaign focuses on educating farmers about central government schemes and sustainable practices.

In Ri Bhoi, VKSA runs from May 29 to June 12, in collaboration with ICAR, CAU, and other institutions. Mobile awareness vans—Kharif Sampark Raths—are visiting villages daily, engaging over 450 farmers through live demos and expert consultations. Topics include soil health, natural farming, water conservation, and integrated farming techniques.

Spanning multiple blocks, the campaign bridges the gap between research and grassroots farming, aiming to strengthen knowledge-sharing and improve livelihoods across Meghalaya.