Special Correspondent: The inaugural session of the two-day National Conclave on “Sustainability, Productivity and Green Growth of Agriculture”, along with the launch of the Students’ Amrit Internship Programme, was held at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV), Mohanpur, on 18 -19thSeptember 2025.
Prof. S. K. Acharya, Dean (PG Studies), welcomed the gathering, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to address emerging challenges in agriculture.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Rajeev Ranjan, Senior Advisor, Indian Potash Limited (IPL), highlighted the vital link between sustainability and productivity. He elaborated on national policies and schemes supporting farmers, while underlining the economic viability of sustainable practices. . Dr. Ranjan also discussed about the Amrit Internship Programme, a unique initiative designed for rural youth, supported by specially crafted e-learning modules to provide insights into agricultural productivity and sustainability.
Dr. Gouranga Kar, Director, ICAR–CRIJAF, spoke on the 3R principles—reduce, recycle, reuse—as key pathways to resource conservation.
In his address, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Ashok K. Patra, thanked the IPL Foundation for its support in creating this significant platform. He stressed the pressing impacts of climate change on Indian agriculture and highlighted the role of potassium in ensuring crop health and productivity. Urging students and interns to dedicate themselves with sincerity, he emphasized integrated approaches to soil, crop, and environmental sustainability for a greener future.
Other distinguished speakers included Ms. Nandini Roy, Mentor, IPL, Shri Nilanjan Sinha, Regional Director, NCDC, who emphasized the role of cooperatives and FPOs in enhancing farm returns; Prof. S. Mukherjee, Director of Research, BCKV, who stressed soil, crop, and environmental health; and Dr. P. K. Mani, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, BCKV, who proposed the vote of thanks.
On the second day, a student workshop was organized with 50 participants of the IPL Students’ Amrit Internship. Nilanjan Sinha, Govinda Chandra Das, and Mahadev Pramanik engaged with students on cooperatives, soil health, organic farming, and evergreen agriculture. Later, Ms. Nandini Roy conducted a practical session on filling e-forms to collect data on farmers’ activities across villages of Nadia district. The Extension Department of BCKV coordinated the workshop.
The two-day conclave featured multiple technical sessions, where experts deliberated on themes including sustainability, productivity enhancement, climate change adaptation, resource conservation, and green growth in agriculture.
The programme was organized under the leadership of Dr. S. B. Goswami, Director of Extension Education and Dr. S. C. Kole Head, Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, BCKV.
