BusinessWire India
New Delhi [India], April 2: ISAP India Foundation, in collaboration with OCP Foundation, successfully organized a national-level workshop titled "Agrisankalp - Climate Resilient Soil & Smart Agriculture" at The Ashok Hotel, New Delhi. The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders -- including policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, development practitioners, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and progressive farmers -- to deliberate on sustainable agricultural practices and future-ready farming solutions.
The workshop served as a platform to showcase key learnings, field-level insights, and outcomes from ongoing interventions across Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, supported by OCP Foundation. These initiatives focus on promoting balanced fertilization, soil health management, climate-resilient practices, and strengthening farmer institutions for improved livelihoods. The event aligns with India's broader vision of achieving sustainable agricultural growth and contributes to the national goal of building a climate-resilient and food-secure future under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Opening the Dialogue
The workshop commenced with a traditional lamp lighting ceremony, followed by welcome and inaugural addresses from leadership of both organizations. The opening session framed the day's agenda -- articulating the significance of the Agrisankalp initiative, the expected outcomes, and the critical role of balanced fertilizer management in building sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture in India.
"Our collaboration with ISAP reflects a shared vision of enabling farmers to adapt to climate challenges while improving productivity and incomes. Knowledge dissemination and local partnerships are key to driving this transformation." -- Hassina Moukhariq, Director - International Development, OCP Foundation.
"India stands at an important inflection point in its agricultural journey. Transitioning towards a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) crop-neutral incentive scheme presents a transformative opportunity to promote balanced fertilizer use, restore soil health, and encourage crop diversification. Placing regenerative agriculture and collective responsibility at the core of our food systems will be essential to securing a productive and sustainable agricultural future for the nation." -- Ashok Gulati, Distinguished Professor, ICRIER
"Our 17-year journey with OCP Foundation, beginning in 2009 in Northern Karnataka, has been a testament to the power of sustained collaboration. From Northern Karnataka to South Eastern Rajasthan, and now to Maharashtra in 2025, we have harnessed Information Communication and Technology (ICT) tools and community-based interventions to place smallholder farmers at the heart of agricultural transformation." -- Bhaskar Natarajan, Chairman, ISAP India Foundation
"Agrisankalp is not just a dialogue platform -- it is a commitment to building resilient agricultural systems. By connecting science with grassroots realities, we aim to empower farmers with knowledge, innovation, and sustainable practices." -- Gaurav Vats, Director - COO, ISAP India Foundation
A Day of Substantive Dialogue
The technical proceedings unfolded across six thematic sessions. The first session, on Fertilizer Landscape and Policy Challenges, examined the current state of India's agrochemicals and fertilizer sector, with a focus on N:P:K imbalances and their consequences for soil health and productivity. Experts from Farmgate Technologies Pvt ltd, Krishitantra, IFPRI, ICAR-NIAP, and the Agro Chem Federation participated in the panel discussion, deliberating on subsidy frameworks and policy reforms needed to sustain India's food systems.
This was followed by a session on Linking Fertilizer Practices to Farm-Level Impact, which drew from field trial evidence presented by scientists from IARI, KVK Kalaburagi and SKNAU. The session highlighted how fertilizer imbalances directly affect farm income and crop productivity, engaging participants in an interactive reflection on the ground-level challenges of adopting balanced nutrition practices.
The afternoon session on Empowering Farmers through Livelihood and Collective Models spotlighted the role of FPOs, collectivization, and market linkages in improving smallholder incomes. Representatives from Walmart Foundation, Jindal Foundation, NAFED, DS Group, and NABARD explored value chains and collective bargaining models, identifying scalable approaches for replication across regions.
A session on Mechanization and Technology for Smallholders showcased affordable precision agriculture tools and custom hiring centre models accessible to small farmers. Speakers from CNH, EKL, Farmart, and ASCI demonstrated practical solutions to optimize fertilizer application, reduce input waste, and improve overall productivity.
The penultimate session focused on Building Climate Resilience, where experts from Grow Indigo, Takachar, and CIFOR-ICRAF examined the cascading impacts of climate change on cropping systems, water availability, and nutrient dynamics. The session underscored how proper fertilizer use can strengthen crops against climate stress and presented scalable climate-smart practices for adoption at the field level.
A Collective Commitment
The workshop concluded with a Way Forward and Commitments session, synthesizing the day's key insights and formalizing a declaration of shared action points. A collaborative roadmap for continued partnership between ISAP, OCP Foundation, and all stakeholders was outlined, with participants invited to articulate one actionable idea to implement post-event -- reinforcing the spirit of collective responsibility.
FPO representatives also shared on-ground experiences throughout the day, demonstrating the tangible impact of improved practices and institutional support. Through initiatives like Agrisankalp, ISAP India Foundation and OCP Foundation reaffirm their commitment to strengthening agricultural ecosystems, enhancing farmer resilience, and contributing to sustainable rural development across India.
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