State-Level Conference on Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan Organised

1 February 2026, Chennai

ICAR–Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; Krishi Vigyan Kendras; Department of Animal Husbandry; and Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, Government of Puducherry Union Territory, organized a State-Level Conference on Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan at the Botanical Gardens, Puducherry today.

The conference aimed to assess the current status of agriculture, veterinary, dairy, and fisheries sectors in Puducherry UT and to formulate a state action plan and strategic roadmap for their sustainable growth and development, in alignment with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047.

The meeting was chaired by Shri Choudhary Mohammed Yasin, IAS, Secretary (Agriculture)-cum-Director, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of Puducherry, along with Dr. Kuldeep Kumar Lal, Director, ICAR–CIBA and State Nodal Officer, VKSA for Puducherry UT.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Yasin emphasized the importance of Viksit Bharat and underscored the need for concerted efforts by farmers, supported by the State Department of Agriculture and allied sectors, including animal husbandry, dairy, fisheries, aquaculture, and research and development institutions, to plan and implement a coordinated action plan. He highlighted the need to enhance productivity and production of key crops such as pulses and oilseeds, while promoting integration of animal husbandry and fisheries for balanced and sustainable development of the primary sector in the Union Territory.

In his address, Dr Lal highlighted that the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has initiated pre-seasonal engagement with farmers through researchers, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and development departments to facilitate lab-to-land transfer of technologies and to identify field-level challenges for reorienting research programmes of R&D institutions. He stated that the conference was organized in this direction to develop a state action plan and roadmap for balanced development of the primary sector in Puducherry UT. He further assured that ICAR institutions would work closely with state departments in a mission-mode approach to achieve the envisioned goals.

A panel discussion was conducted covering key themes such as the National Mission on Edible Oils, National Mission on Pulses, AYUSH, AgriStack, fertilizer leakages, and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), aimed at planning integrated programmes for the development of agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and aquaculture in the Union Territory.

The conference witnessed the participation of over 150 stakeholders, including farmers, scientists, academicians, officials from state departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and representatives of allied developmental organizations, reflecting strong multi-sectoral engagement towards achieving the objectives of Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan.

(Source: Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai)