New Delhi: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the Khet Bachao Abhiyan would begin from Ramsiya village in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district on June 1 and urged the country’s agricultural institutions to treat the campaign as a national mission to protect farmland and improve soil health.
During a virtual interaction with Krishi Vigyan Kendras, ICAR institutions, agricultural universities and state agriculture departments, Chouhan called for coordinated action and wider public participation. He said rising temperatures, declining soil quality and excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides posed serious challenges to agriculture.
The minister said he had spoken with Chief Ministers of all states and sought their participation in the campaign. He also appealed to Union Ministers, public representatives and agricultural stakeholders to join the initiative.
According to Chouhan, the campaign will create awareness on balanced fertiliser use, soil testing, Soil Health Cards, water conservation, natural farming and sustainable crop practices. It will also educate farmers about identifying fake seeds, fertilisers and pesticides.
He said officials must build farmer confidence through demonstrations, scientific evidence and field-level engagement instead of relying only on advisory programmes.
Roadmap prepared for Khet Bachao Abhiyan
Chouhan directed officials to prepare district-wise action plans up to June 30. He asked departments to clearly identify which officers, scientists and institutions would visit villages and interact with farmers. He also called for dashboard-based monitoring and stronger coordination between the Centre, states and agricultural institutions.
The minister said the campaign would link farmers with major government programmes, including the Kisan Credit Card scheme, PM-Kisan, Crop Insurance Scheme, Soil Health Cards, Mini Seed Kits, the Pulses and Oilseeds Mission and agricultural mechanisation initiatives. He added that wider awareness of these schemes would improve farm management and strengthen rural incomes.
Chouhan stressed the importance of media outreach and asked scientists and officials to actively communicate the campaign’s objectives. He said the initiative concerns the future of agriculture, land resources and food security.
Agriculture Secretary Atish Chandra and ICAR Director General Dr. M.L. Jat also participated in the interaction. Vice-chancellors of agricultural universities, ICAR scientists, Krishi Vigyan Kendra experts and senior state agriculture officials joined the meeting.
The minister expressed confidence that the campaign would grow into a nationwide movement for protecting farmland and promoting sustainable agriculture. He also announced that he would personally visit villages in different states and interact directly with farmers during the campaign.
