New Delhi, June 25
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a high-level meeting to conduct a comprehensive review of 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' (Developed Agriculture Resolution Campaign), in an effort to understand and solve the problems faced by farmers across the country and increase agricultural production.
Under this campaign, over 2,170 teams have travelled across the country, reached more than 60 thousand villages and interacted with over 1.45 crore farmers.
The Union Minister said on Tuesday that the goal of the campaign is to increase farming production, reduce costs for farmers and stock up on the country's vegetable and fruit reserves.
"Our 2,170 teams went across the country during the Developed Agriculture Resolution Campaign, reached more than 60,000 villages, and interacted with over 1.45 crore farmers. During the dialogue and discussions, several issues came up, such as research and development should be according to the needs of farmers... what problems farmers face on the ground and what legal solutions can be found for them, this was discussed... The goal is to increase production in farming and reduce costs directly, to increase farmers' income, and to fill the country's fruit and vegetable reserves," Union Minister Chouhan told reporters here.
After chairing the meeting at Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR), New Delhi, the minister said that there have been discussions planned for increasing production and reducing costs of specific crops, with the next discussion to be held on soybean on June 26 (tomorrow).
"We have observed problems in the campaign, assessed our strengths, and will prepare a roadmap by considering the work that needs to be done. Secondly, we have decided that for our different crops, we will discuss the problems related to increasing production, reducing costs, and combating diseases. For example, on the 26th, we are discussing the soybean crop in Indore," Chouhan said.
Additionally, a two-day conference is to be held for the Rabi season, with day one being for officials, and the second day being for the minister to finalise the plan, according to an official statement from the Agriculture ministry.
Later on, discussions on cotton, sugarcane, and other crops by creating a roadmap in collaboration with the states.
'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' was conducted by the central government from May 29 to June 12. During the meeting, Chouhan described the campaign as a "historic movement" in independent India, which is inspired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Lab to Land' vision, which connected scientists with over 60,000 villages.
According to an official statement from the Agriculture ministry, Chouhan emphasised that the initiative would continue with renewed focus on income enhancement, food security, and positioning India as a global food basket. He stressed the development and integration of biofortified crops, sustainable practices, and mechanisation, along with focused efforts on soil health, coastal agriculture, and animal husbandry.
The statement read that Chouhan also proposed the initiation of a 'Crop War' for major crops like pulses, oilseeds, soybean, cotton, and sugarcane. He announced plans for crop- and state-specific planning, research prioritisation, strict regulation against substandard inputs, and the formation of special teams to enforce compliance. He highlighted the need to strengthen Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) through dedicated nodal officers and mandated field engagement by scientists.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is a much-needed initiative! Our farmers have been struggling for years with rising input costs and low yields. If the government can truly help reduce costs and improve productivity, it will transform rural India. Hope they follow through with concrete actions. ðŸ™
Good to see focus on soybean and pulses - we import too much edible oil. But why only 2 weeks campaign? Farmers need year-round support. Also, KVKs must become more active in every block. My uncle in MP still waits 3 months for soil test results!
'Crop War' sounds dramatic but we need this urgency! India must become self-sufficient in oilseeds and pulses. The focus on connecting scientists with farmers is brilliant - our research should solve real field problems, not just stay in labs.
I appreciate the scale - 1.45 crore farmers is impressive! But hope they listened to small/marginal farmers, not just big landowners. Also, coastal agriculture needs special attention - climate change is making farming near coasts very difficult.
Reducing costs is key! Fertilizer prices have doubled in 5 years. But will the government tackle the middlemen problem? Farmers get ₹10 for vegetables that sell for ₹50 in cities. Storage infrastructure is equally important to prevent post-harvest losses.
Biofortified crops could be game-changing for nutrition! But implementation is everything - remember how GM crops became controversial. Need transparent communication with farmers about new technologies. Also, more women should be included in these discussions.
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