Agriculture Minister Ends Campaign, Promises Continued Talks With Farmers
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan officially concluded the 15-day Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan at a grand Kisan Sammelan held in Bardoli, Gujarat. While the campaign has formally ended, the Minister assured farmers that the Centre’s engagement and dialogue with the farming community will continue with full force.
Marking the event at the historically significant site of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 1928 Bardoli Satyagraha, the Minister drew a symbolic link between the legacy of farmers’ struggles for justice and the government’s present commitment to agricultural transformation.
“This land of Bardoli is sacred for India’s agrarian movement,” Chouhan remarked. “It’s inspiring to stand here where Sardar Patel once rallied farmers for their rights.”
Launched on May 29 in Odisha, the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan was designed to actualize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lab to Land initiative—bringing scientific innovations directly to the fields. Over 2,170 expert teams comprising 16,000 agricultural scientists traversed rural India, reaching over 1.12 crore farmers and covering more than 1 lakh villages. These interactions were tailored to local agro-climatic needs and were held across 55,000+ locations.
Highlighting Gujarat’s exemplary contribution to Indian agriculture, Chouhan noted that the state leads in the production of key crops like castor (77%), groundnut (44.5%), cotton (24%), and gram (15%). It also ranks first in cumin, fennel, and dates cultivation.
Chouhan unveiled a roadmap of six strategic pillars to elevate Indian agriculture:
- Boost crop productivity
- Reduce input costs
- Assure remunerative prices
- Provide reliable compensation for losses
- Encourage crop diversification
- Preserve soil health for future sustainability
A major announcement was the launch of a national initiative to expand natural farming to 7.5 lakh hectares in 2025. With over 18 lakh farmers already pledging participation, the Minister emphasized the twin benefits of this method: lower production costs and improved product quality.
“Farmers shared how natural farming has not only cut expenses but also delivered high-quality yields. Their experiences are invaluable,” said Chouhan.
Throughout the campaign, Chouhan visited 13 states, including Odisha, Jammu, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Delhi, and Gujarat. He directly engaged with cultivators through Kisan Chaupals, conferences, and padyatras, drawing lessons from on-ground innovations and success stories.
He praised farmers who have leveraged government schemes and smart farming techniques to multiply their income by ten times, calling them “true scientists” whose practices could shape future policy.
The event was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, State Agriculture Minister Raghavjibhai Patel, and senior agricultural officials. The 2,170 teams of scientists also joined the ceremony virtually.
In closing, Chouhan reiterated the government’s long-standing commitment with the slogan, One Nation – One Agriculture – One Team, to confirm to India’s farmers support and dialogue would still exist long after any one campaign has expired.
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