Almora — Under the “Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan,” four scientific teams from the ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, conducted extensive outreach visits across the blocks of Hawalbagh, Salt, Syalde, and Chaukhutiya. During their visit, the teams directly interacted with more than 400 farmers, providing them with crucial information on agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, crop insurance, solar-powered solutions, mechanization, and advanced technologies.
In Hawalbagh block, Dr. Pankaj Kumar Mishra, Dr. Anuradha Bharatiya, and Dr. Gaurav Verma met with 114 farmers from Chauna and Rankhila villages. The team emphasized the importance of improved seed varieties, post-harvest processing, crop insurance schemes, and protection against wild animals. Dr. Laxmi Kant, Director of the institute, and Dr. Narendra Kumar, Chief Horticulture Officer, were also present. Farmers expressed concerns about increasing crop damage caused by wild animals, particularly monkeys and wild boars, as well as the untimely availability of agricultural inputs. They also demanded an expansion of targets under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana.
In Salt block, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Khulbe, Dr. Amit Kumar, and Dev Singh Panchpal visited villages including Kunidhar, Nahtnaula, Sivanlihith, Basisimar, Mansubhakhaly, and Kwerala. They interacted with 72 farmers, sharing knowledge about kharif crop varieties, farming techniques, and small-scale machinery. Farmers provided valuable feedback during the sessions.
The Chaukhutiya block visit saw Dr. Dinesh Joshi, Dr. Priyanka Khati, and Dr. Devendra Sharma covering six villages in the Rampur and Bhagoti regions. In Rampur, six male and 69 female farmers participated, while Bhagoti saw the engagement of 40 male and 33 female farmers. The discussions highlighted the urgent need for quality seeds and solar fencing. Farmers in Bhagoti requested dwarf rice varieties to prevent lodging issues during cultivation.
In Syalde block, Dr. Ashok Kumar, Dr. Jay Prakash Aditya, and Dheeraj Dubey interacted with 105 farmers at Inter College Malikhet and villages under the Nyaya Panchayat Golna, including Payalgaon, Kafalgaer, and Barangar. Farmers were informed about high-value and locally suitable crops such as red rice, soybean, horse gram (gahat), kulthi, and white finger millet (madua). The team also discussed the premium market value of red rice and the associated government schemes.
Officials from the Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Sericulture, and Cooperatives also participated in the outreach. They explained various government schemes, including subsidies for polyhouses and net houses, and detailed the ongoing training programs available to farmers.
A common concern raised by farmers across the blocks was the severe damage to crops caused by stray animals and wild species. Experts recommended cultivating aromatic crops as a viable alternative. Farmers also requested block-level training programs on beekeeping and sericulture. The scientific teams assured them that training sessions would be organized soon to address these areas.
This outreach initiative not only empowered farmers with modern techniques and knowledge but also helped scientists understand ground-level challenges, laying a strong foundation for future support and development in hill agriculture.
