Amritapuri, August 29, 2025 – The International Conference on Sustainable & Resilient Futures (ICSRF 2025) opened today at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri campus, with an inspiring keynote address by Shri Shaji K. V., Chairman of NABARD. His talk focused on sustainability, agriculture, and experiential learning—setting the tone for the four-day global dialogue on building resilient futures.

NABARD, a long-standing partner in rural development initiatives, has supported several impactful community-driven models, including Amrita’s ongoing WADI project, which promotes sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers.

In his keynote, Shri Shaji emphasized the importance of reimagining agriculture through innovation and inclusivity.

Key Takeaways from the Address:

• 🌱 Balancing productivity and sustainability is essential for the future of farming.

• 👩‍🌾 “Every farm is a classroom” – farmers learn best through experiential, hands-on practice.

• 👭 Women’s Self-Help Groups play a pivotal role in strengthening rural empowerment.

• 🤝 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and cooperatives need greater investment to scale and thrive.

• 🌳 Inclusive programs such as TRIBES, watershed development, and incubation schemes are transforming rural landscapes.

• 💻 The integration of digitisation and technology with grassroots wisdom will drive the next wave of agricultural transformation.

For AMMACHI Labs, which has been pioneering community-led, field-based approaches, this vision reaffirms the power of blending technology with traditional knowledge to create resilient and sustainable livelihoods.