Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday gave a clarion call for launching the ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ from Monday, urging farmers across the country to reduce excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides to protect soil health.
Virtual Interaction with Agricultural Institutions
Ahead of the national launch of the campaign on June 1 from Ramsiya village in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district, Chouhan held a virtual interaction with:
- Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutions
- Agricultural universities
- Senior agricultural officials of Central and state governments
- Farmer welfare organisations nationwide
Key Challenges Facing Indian Agriculture
Chouhan highlighted that rising temperatures, indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, deteriorating soil health and the growing climate crisis have emerged as serious challenges.
“Therefore, timely awareness generation and practical interventions have become essential,” he said.
What Khet Bachao Abhiyan Will Cover
The nationwide campaign will focus on creating awareness among farmers on:
- Balanced fertiliser use and soil testing
- Soil health cards and natural farming
- Crop selection and water conservation
- Green manuring and alternative agricultural practices
- Identification of counterfeit fertilisers seeds and pesticides
Detailed Roadmap Until June 30
Chouhan directed that a detailed roadmap extending up to June 30 should be prepared across the country, clearly identifying which officer scientist institution or team would visit which village and on what date.
He emphasised:
- District-level programmes planned in advance
- Dashboard-based monitoring system
- Adequate local level arrangements
- Effective coordination at every stage
Centre-State Coordination Essential
Highlighting the crucial role of state agriculture departments Chouhan said the campaign could succeed only if the Centre state governments ICAR agricultural universities KVKs public representatives students and farmer organisations worked together.
He also stressed involving Members of Parliament legislators and elected representatives in the campaign and encouraged them to present practical examples of natural farming.
Government Schemes to Be Integrated
Chouhan announced that the campaign would ensure benefits of key schemes reach farmers including:
- Kisan Credit Card
- PM Kisan Samman Nidhi
- Crop Insurance Scheme
- Soil Health Cards
- Mini Seed Kits
- Pulses and Oilseeds Mission
- Agricultural Mechanisation programmes
Minister to Visit Villages Personally
Chouhan announced that he himself would visit villages in different states during the campaign and interact directly with farmers. He also revealed that he had spoken with Chief Ministers of all states over phone to seek their participation.
He called upon all stakeholders to visit villages with complete dedication and transform the resolve to protect Mother Earth into a mass movement.
