
Empowering SC Farmers through a capacity building Coastal Soil Health Management in Coastal Maharashtra
The ICAR–Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR–CCARI), Goa successfully organized the Coastal Soil Health Improvement Programme (CHSIP) – 2026 on 30 March 2026 at Village Pandur, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP). The programme was aimed at empowering Scheduled Caste (SC) farmers by enhancing their knowledge and capacity in soil health management and sustainable coastal agriculture. A total of 15 SC farmers, including progressive farmers, actively participated and benefitted from the initiative. The training emphasized the critical role of soil health in improving productivity and resilience of coastal farming systems, particularly under the challenges of salinity and nutrient imbalances.
The programme covered key technical aspects such as soil health management practices tailored for coastal regions, use of digital agriculture tools, application of bio-inoculants, biomass recycling, and preparation of farm-based bio-inputs like PROM (Phosphate Rich Organic Manure) and Jeevamrut developed by ICAR-CCARI, Goa. These interventions are essential for enhancing soil fertility, improving nutrient use efficiency, and promoting environmentally sustainable agriculture. As part of the initiative, essential agricultural inputs, including PROM and Amrashakti (multinutrientfoliaryspary solution developed by Dr. BSKKV, Dapoli), were distributed to the farmers to facilitate on-field adoption of improved practices. The programme concluded with an interactive feedback session, where participants appreciated the practical orientation and technical guidance provided. The event was successfully coordinated by Mr. Shashi Vishwakarma, Dr. Gopal R. Mahajan, and Dr. Keshav V. Desai (KVK, Sindhudurg), reinforcing ICAR–CCARI’s commitment towards inclusive and sustainable development of coastal farming communities.