Chandel, 29/06/2026: As part of the ongoing Khet Bachao Abhiyan (Save the Field Campaign), a vital Capacity Building Programme on Soil Fertility Enhancement through Simple Measures was formally inaugurated today at Lambung Village, Chandel District, under the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) Project. The programme, scheduled to conclude on July 1, 2026, was organised by ICAR – Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Chandel.
The programme focuses on empowering local farmers with practical knowledge and hands-on skills in key sustainable agriculture techniques, including balanced use of chemical fertilizers, vermi composting, and green manuring. The initiative is part of a broader effort under NICRA to build climate resilience at the grassroots level by promoting ecologically sound and cost-effective soil management practices that reduce dependence on costly inputs while enhancing long-term soil productivity.
Dr. A Ameeta Devi, Senior Scientist & Head, ICAR – KVK Chandel, and Principal Investigator of the NICRA Chandel Project, presided over the inaugural function and delivered the keynote address. Welcoming participants, she emphasised the critical need to move away from blanket and indiscriminate fertilizer application, which has been steadily degrading soil health across the district. She stated: “Our soils are living ecosystems. The relentless overuse of synthetic fertilizers disrupts the microbial balance and diminishes the natural fertility that our farming ancestors carefully preserved.
Sp Lovejoy, District Agriculture Officer (DAO), Chandel, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. In his address, he lauded such capacity-building initiatives through Khet Bachao Abhiyan campaign and the NICRA Project. He said our farmers are intelligent and hardworking; what they need is timely, reliable, and practical technical guidance. Campaigns like this one, which bring scientists and farmers face-to-face at the village level, are exactly what our farmers need. He urged every farmer to take the lessons from this training back to their fields and share them with fellow cultivators to build a district that is both productive and ecologically sustainable.
Dr. Langlentombi Chanu, Scientist (Agro Forestry), ICAR – Manipur Centre, who attended as a special invitee and resource person, highlighted the synergistic relationship between agro-forestry systems and soil fertility management. She said: “Integrating trees and perennial plants into farming systems is one of the most underutilised strategies for improving soil organic carbon and fertility in our hill districts. Agro-forestry creates a natural cycle of leaf litter, root biomass, and biological nitrogen fixation that complements and even reduces the need for external fertilizer inputs.”
Dr. K. Sonamani Singh, SMS (Agricultural Engineering) and Co-Principal Investigator, NICRA Chandel, also addressed the gathering by stressing the importance of simple engineering interventions that support soil and water conservation at the farm level. He observed: “Soil fertility cannot be sustained without also addressing soil moisture and water management. Many of our farmers are losing topsoil to erosion precisely because they do not have access to basic knowledge of farm-level conservation measures. In today’s technical session, we will cover not only balanced fertilization and organic inputs, but also practical soil health management measures that any farmer can adopt without heavy investment. Sustainable soil is the foundation of sustainable farming, and our farmers deserve every opportunity to achieve it.”
The programme also saw active participation and contributions from the Subject Matter Specialists (SMS) of KVK Chandel: Dr. KL. Levish Chongloi, SMS (Agronomy), Ts. Leenda Monsang, SMS (Plant Breeding) and Ps. Lavid Anal, SMS (Horticulture). These specialists will provide domain-specific sessions over the course of the programme, covering crop-specific nutrient management, varietal selection for improved productivity under balanced nutrition, and nutrient management practices tailored for horticultural crops grown in the district.
Scientists and Farmers interactive session was also conducted to reinforce practical learning for the farmers of Lambung and Riverlane village of Chandel District. Thereafter, the programme for today was concluded with input distribution of vegetable seeds to the participating farmers.
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