One of the most ambitious features of the VKSA is its massive scale and reach. The government plans to deploy 2,170 expert teams, each comprising at least four specialists from research institutes, universities, FPOs, and progressive farmers.
In a major push towards modernising Indian agriculture and realising the vision of a “Developed India,” Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Monday announced the nationwide rollout of the ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ (VKSA). The campaign, set to run from May 29 to June 12, aims to bridge the gap between agricultural research and farm-level application, taking scientific innovations directly to the farmers.
Addressing a press conference at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, Chouhan outlined the objectives of the campaign and stressed the critical role of developed agriculture in national development. “A developed India is not possible without developed agriculture, advanced farming techniques, and innovative farmers,” he said. “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, we are taking strong steps to make this a reality.”
A Step Toward ‘Lab to Land’
The VKSA initiative represents a significant move toward fulfilling Prime Minister Modi’s long-standing vision of “Lab to Land.” Research findings and technological innovations generated in labs will now be systematically disseminated to farms across India. The ministry of agriculture and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will jointly implement the campaign with a broad coalition of stakeholders, including agricultural universities, state government departments, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and leading progressive farmers.
Chouhan highlighted that the campaign will be held annually ahead of the Kharif and Rabi sowing seasons, ensuring timely dissemination of crucial farming information.
Record Agricultural Production Sets the Stage
The announcement comes on the back of record agricultural production in 2024–25, reflecting the sector’s resilience and potential. Kharif rice production reached 1206.79 lakh metric tonnes, wheat stood at 1154.30 lakh metric tonnes, Kharif maize at 248.11 lakh metric tonnes, groundnut at 104.26 lakh metric tonnes, and soybean at 151.32 lakh metric tonnes. Overall, total foodgrain output rose to 3309.18 lakh tonnes, up from 3157.74 lakh tonnes in 2023-24.
“These historic numbers have not only filled our food reserves but have also bolstered our confidence in transforming India into the ‘Food Basket of the World’,” said Chouhan. He also noted significant increases in pulse production (from 221.71 to 230.22 lakh tonnes) and oilseed production (from 384 to 416 lakh tonnes).
Chouhan emphasised that the Ministry is working on a six-point strategy to ensure food security and farmer prosperity:
- Increasing agricultural production
- Reducing production costs
- Ensuring fair pricing for farm produce
- Providing compensation for losses due to natural disasters
- Promoting crop diversification, food processing, and value addition
- Encouraging natural and organic farming methods
Scientific Outreach at Unprecedented Scale
One of the most ambitious features of the VKSA is its massive scale and reach. The government plans to deploy 2,170 expert teams, each comprising at least four specialists from research institutes, universities, FPOs, and progressive farmers. These teams will visit over 65,000 villages across 723 districts, conducting daily sessions in morning, afternoon, and evening formats to maximise outreach.
These interactions will focus on local agro-climatic conditions, soil health, water availability, and expected rainfall. Using Soil Health Cards, the experts will recommend the most suitable crops, improved seed varieties, ideal sowing techniques, and optimal fertiliser usage to improve soil health and reduce input costs.
The initiative will also utilise the existing network of 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and mobilise the efforts of more than 16,000 agricultural scientists.
Strengthening Food Security; Farmer Incomes
Importantly, the campaign is not a one-way information drive. It is designed to be interactive, allowing farmers to raise concerns, ask questions, and provide feedback on local farming issues, such as pest infestations or crop diseases. This feedback loop is expected to inform ongoing and future agricultural research, making it more responsive to real-world challenges.
Over 1.3 crore farmers are expected to be directly engaged through VKSA, making it one of the largest ever farmer-scientist outreach initiatives in the country.
At the core of VKSA lies the goal of ensuring national food security for India’s 1.45 billion people, while also improving farmer incomes and promoting sustainable use of natural resources.
“With this campaign, we are taking a major step forward to connect our scientific achievements with the everyday needs of our farmers,” said Chouhan. “This is how we will transform Indian agriculture and uplift our farming communities.”
As the country prepares for the 2025 Kharif sowing season, the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan promises to usher in a new era of scientific, sustainable, and inclusive agriculture—laying a solid foundation for a Viksit Bharat (Developed India).
