HT CORRESPONDENT
NAGAON, June 6: In a major push towards sustainable agriculture and ecological restoration, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Assam Regional Office launched its flagship JIVA project in the Barbeel tribal cluster under Kathiatoli Development Block of Nagaon district.
The programme was inaugurated on Thursday by Loken Das, Chief General Manager of NABARD, in the presence of a host of dignitaries including Dr PC Bhuyan, Dean of the College of Fisheries, Raha; Dr Deepak Chamola from GIZ-India; AGM Bhama Deuri and DDM Rajendar Perna of NABARD; Intiyaz Talukdar, Dairy Development Officer; Akshata Jagannath from Selco Foundation; ADO Nilutpal Dutta, SDFDO Lidza Morang, Jyotish Talukdar, and the team from Kalong Kapili.
The launch marks a significant step by NABARD to promote natural and agroecology-based farming practices in the face of growing environmental and climate-related challenges.
Speaking at the event, CGM Loken Das stressed the need to move away from harmful chemical inputs in farming, citing their long-term negative impact on soil health, water quality, and human health. He explained that ‘JIVA’, an acronym for Jameen (Land), Jal (Water), and Janwar (Animals), reflects an integrated approach to farming. “It is time to leverage our social and natural capital to restore ecological balance,” he added.
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DDM Rajendar Perna elaborated that ‘JIVA’, derived from Sanskrit meaning “a living being,” aims to build resilience in farming systems by promoting natural inputs, traditional seed banks, integrated aquaculture-livestock-horticulture systems, and setting up Bio-Input Resource Centres in the tribal region.
Dr Deepak Chamola emphasized that JIVA would foster a circular economy by using local resources wisely. He advocated for developing a Centre of Excellence in Natural Farming to empower farmers as grassroots scientists.
Highlighting the importance of fisheries in rural livelihoods, Dr P.C. Bhuyan recommended including aquaculture as a vital component of the JIVA project to support integrated and sustainable farm models.
Jyotish Talukdar, Director of Kalong Kapili, expressed gratitude to NABARD for backing the initiative. He stated that 40 selected champion farmers would undertake innovative intercropping of cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and vegetables alongside aquaculture, setting a new benchmark for natural farming in Assam.
The event saw participation from over 150 stakeholders, including farmers, community leaders, and government officials, marking a hopeful beginning for a greener, more sustainable agricultural future in the region.
