Chandigarh
28 May 2025
DIVYA AZAD
Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Punjab and UT Administrator flagged off the Vikset Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan & Soil Yatra from his residence at Raj Bhawan on Wednesday.
This unique campaign is a soil diagnostic and awareness drive aimed at taking advanced soil testing directly to farmers which is right at their fields. A specially designed mobile van equipped with tools for analyzing soil biology, chemistry and structure as well as a microscope to display live soil microbes will be used throughout the initiative.
Being initiated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in collaboration with Chandigarh-based startup Sampurn Agri Ventures Pvt. Ltd and Greenaffair., the yatra will cover 17 districts in next 15 days. The campaign is expected to engage and educate hundreds of farmers on the importance of soil health through Krishi Vikas Kendra.
The Vikset Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan is launched by the Government of India, aims to promote innovative and sustainable agricultural technologies. One of its key focus areas is the use of Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) and Liquid FOM, which play a vital role in restoring soil carbon and improving biological health. Sustainable agriculture and climate change are major challenges which has the one solution that is soil health by increasing organic carbon in the soil
While flagging off the van, Governor. Gulab Chand Kataria said, “The Vikset Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan and Soil Yatra are commendable steps toward addressing the critical challenges faced by Indian agriculture today. By taking scientific soil testing directly to the farmers’ fields, this initiative not only empowers our farming community with essential knowledge but also fosters a deeper understanding of organic practices. These efforts are essential for safeguarding the health of both our land and our people. Our farmers need more than just subsidies—they need knowledge, tools, and a clear vision. This initiative provides science-based, practical, and forward-thinking support to restore the most important part of farming: healthy, living soil.
Appraising the need of this initiative, Sanjeev Nagpal, MD, Sampurn Agri Ventures Pvt Ltd said, With spending $10 billion on fertilizer imports and $4.5 billion on food supplements, India is facing a severe agricultural crisis, marked by declining soil biology, deteriorating groundwater quality, poor food nutrition and widespread nutrient deficiency which affect nearly 50% of the population.
He affirmed that the initiative will prioritize soil health over mere crop yield by highlighting the advantages of Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) and Liquid FOM (LFOM) over traditional manure. Both help restore soil organic carbon, enhance nutrient efficiency and significantly reduce the need for chemical fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides. In addition to boosting plant health, they offer a sustainable solution to stubble burning by converting agricultural waste into valuable inputs.
Komal Jaiswal, Founder, Greenaffair while expressing the mission of Soil Yatra said,, “The vision of Soil Yatra is the essential basis for ensuring food security, preserving biodiversity, conserving water and enhancing climate resilience. Neglecting soil health jeopardizes the well-being of our ecosystems and the future sustainability of life on our planet.”
Those who present on the occasion includes Principal Secretary to the Governor Sh Vivek Pratap Singh, Priyank Bharti (IAS), Secretary, Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Govt of Punjab, Surbhi Malik (IAS), Director, Industries & Commerce and MD, Punjab Small Industries Export Corporation, Anil Kumar Tripathi, Director, IISER, Mohali, Dr. Balbir Singh Khadda, Deputy Director, KVK Mohali, Satyendra Singh Choudhary, CEO, TBI, IISER, Mohali and Dr Rupesh Singh, Vice President, Adani Group (North), Social Worker Karan Gilhotra, Ashish Kumar MD Verbio India and other dignitaries.
