BHUBANESWAR, 30 May 2025: In a landmark move to revolutionize Indian agriculture, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, launched the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA-2025) at the ICAR–Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA) in Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar.
The initiative is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader vision for a self-reliant, sustainable, and technologically empowered agricultural sector in India.
The VKSA-2025 campaign aims to engage and benefit over 1.5 crore farmers across India through technology dissemination, capacity building, and direct grassroots engagement. Addressing the audience, Shri Chouhan emphasized that the fisheries sector is a vital pillar of India’s food security and a significant source of livelihood, especially in rural regions. He stressed that advanced technologies developed by institutions like ICAR-CIFA must reach the farmers in a timely and efficient manner to improve incomes and build a resilient agricultural and aquaculture ecosystem.
The inauguration witnessed participation from key dignitaries, including Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment & Energy, Government of Odisha; Shri Gokulananda Mallik, Minister of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, Government of Odisha; MLAs Shri Babu Singh and Shri Ashrit Pattanayak, along with several senior ICAR officials such as Dr. M. L. Jat, Director General of ICAR and Secretary (DARE); Dr. J.K. Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries Science); Dr. Rajbir Singh, DDG (Agricultural Extension); and Dr. Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata.
In his address, Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo called VKSA-2025 a "timely intervention" that will accelerate agricultural transformation in Odisha and offer farmers greater access to innovation, infrastructure, and institutional support. Shri Gokulananda Mallik highlighted Odisha’s ongoing efforts to empower livestock owners and farmers through free veterinary health services and rural development initiatives.
DG ICAR Dr. M. L. Jat described VKSA-2025 as a pre-Kharif transformational campaign designed to connect farmers directly with cutting-edge scientific innovations. He called upon all stakeholders—government departments, academic institutions, researchers, and farmer groups—to unite in realizing the vision of "Viksit Krishi for a Viksit Bharat", focused on achieving agricultural prosperity and resilience.
Over 600 farmers and farm women, including members of local Self Help Groups (SHGs), participated in a scientist-farmer interaction session, where they learned about sustainable agricultural practices, integrated farming models, and new aquaculture technologies.
A major highlight of the event was the launch of “CIFA Argu VAX–I”, a novel vaccine developed by ICAR-CIFA to combat parasitic infections in fish. The vaccine represents a significant milestone in fish health management and is expected to reduce disease-related losses in aquaculture.
An exhibition was also organized alongside the launch, showcasing innovations from SHGs, KVK Khordha, and ICAR-CIFA. The exhibit highlighted community involvement and bottom-up innovation in agriculture and aquaculture.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Rajbir Singh, who expressed his gratitude to the dignitaries, farmer participants, researchers, and field workers for their support in making the campaign launch a success.
The VKSA-2025 campaign will run nationwide from May 29 to June 12, 2025, covering every district in India. The initiative focuses on building a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready agricultural sector, positioning Indian farmers to meet the challenges of climate change, resource scarcity, and market demands through innovation and technology.
