Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches schemes to make agriculture a profitable and sustainable sector

Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced new set of measures for turning farming into a more profitable, and sustainable sector. The minister also lauded recently concluded Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan as a landmark initiative, describing it as the launchpad for a long-term nationwide movement rooted in direct farmer engagement and grassroots problem-solving.

The campaign, which mobilised over 2,170 teams of agricultural scientists, government officials, and experts, covered more than 1.42 lakh villages and reached over 1.34 crore farmers. The initiative witnessed significant participation from the top political leadership, including Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, State Ministers, MPs, MLAs, and thousands of grassroots representatives, Chouhan said addressing a press conference here on the culmination of the outreach campaign.

Chouhan emphasised that genuine reform cannot be orchestrated from behind desks but requires active engagement in the fields. As part of a new operational approach, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) will be designated as nodal agencies in every district, tasked with responding to farmers' needs through coordinated teams. Scientists at these KVKs will now be required to spend at least three days a week in the field, a step Chouhan called essential to bridging the gap between agricultural research and real-world challenges.

Leading by example, he committed to personally visiting farms two days a week to understand farmers’ issues first-hand.

In an effort to improve institutional coordination and policy implementation, Chouhan announced the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will appoint state-level nodal officers who will be responsible for overseeing scientific trials, advising on regional issues, and maintaining close communication with state governments.

Chouhan also flagged some key challenges that emerged during the campaign: the prevalence of substandard seeds and pesticides. He said the government will strengthen the Seed Act and enforce stricter quality control to ensure only certified and high-quality inputs are made available to farmers. He reiterated the government’s core mission: improving productivity, reducing input costs, and turning farming into a viable and sustainable livelihood for all.

The minister said the campaign prioritised outreach to historically under-served regions. In 177 tribal districts, over 8,000 programmes were conducted across 1,024 blocks, engaging 18 lakh farmers. In 112 aspirational districts, teams reached nearly 6,800 villages and interacted with around 15 lakh farmers. Nearly 100 border districts and “vibrant villages” were also included to ensure no region was left behind. A key feature of the outreach was the Kisan Chaupals — interactive sessions where farmers and scientists discussed crop suitability, seed quality, soil health, and pest management.

In these dialogues, farmers raised several policy-level concerns, including the need for a climate change action plan tailored to agriculture, a simplified certification process for organic farming, a national fodder policy, and reforms to make Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) more effective. Chouhan acknowledged these inputs, stating that field insights must shape future policymaking, and committed to incorporating these issues into the Ministry’s agenda.

Reflecting on agricultural progress under the Narendra Modi government, Chouhan noted that food grain production has increased by 40% over the past 11 years. He credited this growth to data-driven and farmer-centric policymaking, reaffirming the government’s commitment to food security, nutritional adequacy, and sustainable farming practices. He underlined the broader national vision of positioning India as a global food basket, stating that the future of Indian agriculture lies in a synergy between policy, science, and grassroots participation.

Maritime