Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will launch the ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ from June 1-15 to combat imbalanced fertilizer use, restore soil health, and promote sustainable practices amid rising input costs and global supply challenges.

In a significant move to address the growing crisis of soil degradation in Indian agriculture, Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced a nationwide “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” (Save Farms Campaign). Scheduled from June 1 to June 15, 2026, the fortnight-long initiative aims to promote balanced fertilizer application, enhance soil health, and educate farmers on sustainable practices.

The campaign comes at a critical juncture. Decades of imbalanced fertilizer use, particularly the over-reliance on nitrogenous fertilizers like urea, have led to nutrient deficiencies, declining soil fertility, and reduced crop response. With global fertilizer prices volatile due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia, and India’s subsidy burden projected to rise by nearly Rs 70,000 crore this year, the drive seeks to reduce excessive consumption while maintaining productivity.

The Announcement and Its Context

Chouhan made the announcement while inaugurating the Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, alongside Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The conference brought together stakeholders from eastern states including Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal to deliberate on boosting agricultural productivity in the region.

Chouhan emphasised that fake fertilizers, substandard seeds, and counterfeit pesticides constitute serious crimes against farmers. He called for a nationwide crackdown and stricter state-level enforcement to ensure quality inputs reach cultivators without inflating costs. The minister urged farmers to adopt soil-test-based nutrient management and integrate natural farming on at least part of their land.

The Perils of Imbalanced Fertilizer Use

India’s soils face widespread deficiencies in macro and micronutrients. Historical data shows the ideal N:P:K ratio of 4:2:1 has skewed dramatically, often reaching extremes like 9:3.5:1 in some regions due to heavy urea application. This imbalance has reduced the efficiency of fertilizers – from 15 kg of crop yield per kg of fertilizer in the 1960s to just 4-5 kg today – largely because of declining organic carbon in soils.

Excessive nitrogen leads to soil acidification, compaction, nutrient runoff causing water pollution and eutrophication, and greenhouse gas emissions. Micronutrient deficiencies (zinc, sulfur, iron, etc.) have increased from one in the 1950s to nine by the mid-2000s. Nutrient mining by intensive rice-wheat systems exacerbates the problem, with annual gaps between nutrient removal and replenishment estimated at 8-10 million tonnes.

Small and marginal farmers, who operate over 80 per cent of holdings (mostly under 2 hectares), face acute pressure. Economic constraints and lack of awareness often lead to continued imbalanced practices, raising input costs while lowering long-term productivity and resilience to climate change.

Objectives and Implementation of the Campaign

The “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” will focus on several key areas:

• Soil Health Awareness: Encouraging widespread soil testing and balanced, site-specific fertilizer application.
• Sustainable Practices: Promoting integrated nutrient management, including organic manures, biofertilizers, and natural farming techniques.
• Technology and Schemes: Disseminating information on modern tools, government initiatives like PM PRANAM (which incentivizes states reducing chemical fertilizer use), Soil Health Cards, and farmer registries.
• Eastern Focus: Leveraging the region’s fertile lands, water resources, and potential for pulses, oilseeds, horticulture, and integrated farming for smallholders.

Implementation will involve Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, ATMA, FPOs, NGOs, and state departments. Similar awareness drives have already sensitized lakhs of farmers in states like Rajasthan and Goa.

Broader Agricultural Vision for Eastern India

Chouhan highlighted eastern India’s strengths – fertile soil, abundant water, diverse climate, and hardworking farmers – and positioned it as a potential growth engine for national agriculture under the “Purvodaya” vision. Discussions at the conference covered crop diversification, climate-resilient farming, marketing reforms, agricultural credit, and curbing spurious inputs.

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi noted the conference’s role in creating a shared roadmap for inclusive, sustainable development. Union Ministers of State and other dignitaries attended the event.

Challenges and Expected Outcomes

While the campaign promotes reduction in chemical fertilizer dependency, experts caution against abrupt cuts that could affect short-term yields. The government aims for a balanced approach: maintaining food security while transitioning to efficiency. Success depends on effective grassroots outreach, especially in high-consumption districts.

Long-term benefits include restored soil organic carbon, better nutrient use efficiency, lower subsidy burdens, reduced environmental pollution, and higher farmer incomes through diversified, resilient systems. This aligns with national goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat in agriculture and climate-smart practices.

A Call to Action for Farmers and Stakeholders

The “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” is more than an awareness drive – it is a clarion call to safeguard the foundation of India’s food security: its soils. Farmers are encouraged to participate actively, test their soils, adopt balanced practices, and explore natural farming. States must strengthen enforcement against fake inputs, while scientists and extension workers scale up support.

As Chouhan aptly framed it: “Save Farms, Save Soil, Save Farmers.” He was optimistic that with coordinated efforts, the campaign could mark a pivotal shift toward sustainable agriculture, ensuring prosperous farms for future generations.