Starting in October, the government will introduce the modern kisan chaupal – lab to land program, which will facilitate direct interactions between scientists and farmers. This initiative aims to disseminate critical information regarding innovative agricultural practices.

Union minister for agriculture and farmers’ welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, held a press conference on Thursday to outline significant achievements and initiatives taken by the ministry of agriculture and farmers’ welfare in the first 100 days of the current government. Highlighting a comprehensive six-point strategy, Chouhan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity and ensuring the welfare of farmers, emphasizing, “Agriculture is the backbone of our economy,” he said, underlining the importance of the sector for the food security of India’s 1.4 billion citizens.

The agriculture minister reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to advancing the welfare of farmers, emphasizing that agriculture remains a cornerstone of India’s economic landscape. As the government continues to implement its ambitious plans, collaboration across all sectors will be crucial for fostering a sustainable and prosperous agricultural future.

Major achievements

Over the past 100 days, the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have implemented several key initiatives aimed at bolstering agricultural productivity and sustainability in the face of climate change.

Release of Climate-Resilient Varieties:
Chouhan announced the introduction of 109 new climate-resilient seed varieties across 61 crops, including 34 food crops and 27 horticultural varieties. These seeds are engineered to withstand stresses such as drought, diseases, and saline soils, empowering farmers to protect their yields even in adverse conditions.

Seed Delivery Framework:
A new framework has been established for the timely distribution of these seeds, with ICAR, agricultural universities, and state governments working together to ensure that the seeds reach farmers before the Rabi season. This initiative also includes collaboration with the private sector in seed production.

SATHI Portal Integration:
To improve seed quality and traceability, the Ministry has onboarded 266 breeder seed production centers onto the SATHI Portal. This integration will help ensure that farmers receive high-quality seeds.

Advanced Agricultural Techniques:
A launch of 100 advanced agricultural techniques aims to optimize resource usage, cut costs, and protect crops from pests and diseases. These techniques are designed to provide farmers with the right inputs at the right times.

Climate Change Strategic Plans:
Strategic plans to address climate challenges have been developed for 140 blocks across 28 states and 4 union territories. These plans include methods for selecting suitable crop varieties based on weather conditions and implementing effective water conservation practices.

AI-Based Tools for Farmers:
Ten AI-driven applications have been developed, including a pest identification platform that allows farmers to upload pest images and receive immediate identification and control advice. Over 15,000 farmers have downloaded this app within the first month of its launch.

Online Agricultural Education System:
The admission system for agricultural universities has transitioned online in line with the National Education Policy-2020. The new VIKAS app facilitates interaction between students and agricultural practices, enhancing engagement in agricultural education.

Training Initiatives:
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) have provided training to over 65,000 individuals under the Kushal Yuva program, with a notable emphasis on empowering women in agriculture.

Promotion of Natural Farming:
Research on natural farming is ongoing, with 101,633 farmers trained through various programs. Awareness campaigns have reached over 11 lakh farmers, promoting sustainable practices.

These initiatives are part of the government’s larger commitment to improving the resilience and productivity of India’s agricultural sector.

Enhanced Agricultural Production

Chouhan stressed the importance of increasing crop yields through the introduction of 109 new climate-friendly, pest-resistant, and high-yielding seed varieties. This initiative aims not only to boost agricultural output but also to ensure environmental sustainability.

Cost reduction in farming:

To alleviate the financial burden on farmers, the minister announced significant reductions in fertilizer costs. Urea, typically priced at ₹2,366 per bag, is now available to farmers at ₹266. Similarly, a bag of DAP has been reduced from ₹2,433 to ₹1,350.

Digital agriculture mission:

The government has launched the Digital Agriculture Mission with a budget of ₹2,817 crore, aimed at establishing a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture. This initiative plans to create digital identities for 11 crore farmers by 2026-27, providing access to various agricultural services and benefits.

Modern kisan chaupal:

Starting in October, the government will introduce the modern kisan chaupal – lab to land program, which will facilitate direct interactions between scientists and farmers. This initiative aims to disseminate critical information regarding innovative agricultural practices.

PM-Kisan initiative:

Chouhan highlighted the government’s disbursement of ₹21,000 crore to over 9.26 crore farmers through the PM-Kisan scheme, which has now included more than 25 lakh new beneficiaries, bringing the total to 9.51 crore. An AI-based chatbot, Kisan-eMitra, has also been introduced to assist farmers with queries, successfully addressing over 82 lakh inquiries.

Trade policy adjustments

In an effort to enhance agricultural exports, the government has made several policy adjustments, including:

• Onion Exports: The removal of the Minimum Export Price (MEP) for onions and a reduction of the export duty from 40 per cent to 20 per cent to boost exports and improve prices for growers.
• Basmati Rice: Elimination of the MEP for Basmati rice, facilitating recovery in international markets for better pricing.
• Edible Oils: An increase in import duties on palm, soya, and sunflower oil to support domestic prices and benefit local producers.

Financial support to farmers

Chouhan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring fair prices for agricultural produce through the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA), which has a budget of ₹35,000 crore until 2025-26. The scheme aims to provide price support and stabilization for farmers during volatile market conditions.

The government has also sanctioned substantial procurement quantities for the upcoming Kharif season to ensure fair pricing, including:

• 28.36 LMT of soybean across four states.
• 1.33 LMT of urad in three states.
• 43,500 MT of moong in Maharashtra, Telangana, and Karnataka.

Infrastructure development

Chouhan announced an expansion of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), aimed at addressing existing infrastructure gaps in the agricultural sector. To date, over ₹48,500 crore has been sanctioned for 76,400 projects, creating nearly 8.25 lakh jobs in rural areas and significantly enhancing storage capacity for agricultural products.

He said that the ministry of agriculture is well-equipped to address the challenges faced by the farming community. Chouhan expressed optimism regarding the digital agriculture mission, which seeks to modernize farming practices and improve service delivery to farmers.