Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches 'PRAGATI' initiative to empower 20,000 agri-entrepreneurs
New Delhi, July 7
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the initiative 'PRAGATI' to empower 20,000 agri-entrepreneurs and directly support 20 lakh farmers, an official said on Tuesday.
Speaking about the initiative, Chouhan said that the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 cannot be achieved without a developed agricultural sector and prosperous villages.
He said the government's focus is not limited to increasing agricultural production, but also includes reducing cultivation costs, increasing farmers' incomes, promoting crop diversification, and making agriculture more profitable.
He emphasised that traditional farming alone is not sufficient for small and marginal farmers. Therefore, promoting value addition, food processing, and agriculture-based entrepreneurship is essential.
He said that PRAGATI is an extension of this vision and will help create pathways to increase farmers' incomes by connecting them with technology, farm mechanisation, soil health management, and better market access
The PRAGATI programme, designed with the help of several foundations such as the State Bank of India Foundation (SBIF) and the Gates Foundation, aims to catalyse a large-scale, inclusive, and climate-resilient regenerative agriculture initiative to transform smallholder farmers.
The programme has been built on the learnings from prior agri-entrepreneurship initiatives implemented in several states across India.
Monica Bauer, Senior Vice President, Global Social Impact, of a foundation supporting the initiative, said farmers play a vital role in driving local economies, and supporting their livelihoods is essential to building a more resilient food system.
The programme aims to help expand access to the tools and knowledge farmers need to grow more sustainably and help strengthen food systems for generations to come, said her colleague Jagrut Kotecha.
PRAGATI aims to create a nationwide ecosystem of 20,000 agri-entrepreneurs on top of the existing network of 26,000-plus agri-entrepreneurs, with a strong emphasis on inclusive participation and balanced representation within the field.
The programme will be implemented across key agricultural states, including Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, the official said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good initiative, but I wish there was more emphasis on women farmers and women-led agri-enterprises. In states like Assam and West Bengal, women do most of the farming work but rarely own land or businesses. Hope PRAGATI ensures balanced representation as mentioned. The SBI Foundation is a reliable partner. Let's hope this creates real livelihoods! 🌾💪
As someone who works in agri-tech, this is promising. 20,000 new agri-entrepreneurs on top of the existing 26,000 is a big push for India's rural economy. But I'm skeptical about implementation in states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan where irrigation and market access remain challenges. The emphasis on climate-resilient regenerative agriculture is the need of the hour. Let's hope PRAGATI doesn't get tangled in politics.
Great that they're collaborating with foundations like Gates and SBI—this shows serious intent. But I want to know how the selection of agri-entrepreneurs will happen. Will it be transparent? Will small and marginal farmers actually benefit or will it be captured by big players? Also, traditional farming alone isn't sufficient—this is true for 86% of our farmers who are smallholders. Value addition and food processing can really change things! 🚜
PRAGATI sounds good on paper, but I remember similar schemes in the past that didn't deliver. The emphasis on technology and farm mechanization is welcome, but what about access to credit for these new entrepreneurs? Also, choosing states like Jharkhand and Assam is smart because they have huge potential but are often ignored. Let's hope this isn't just another photo-op initiative. The real test will be in 2-3 years when we see actual results.
M Michael C