Agricultural Development Pledge Campaign 2025: Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Visit to Sehore Emphasizes Quality Seed Initiatives, Lakhpati Didi Program, and Crop Insurance Plans
Fresh Take:
On June 7, 2025, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan touched down in Ichhawar, Sehore district, Madhya Pradesh, as part of the ongoing Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (Progressive Agriculture Pact). This ambitious campaign targets strengthening the connection between agricultural experts and farmers spread across the nation, as part of the "One Nation-One Agriculture-One Team" vision.
Chouhan, a seasoned traveler under the VKSA banner, having visited Odisha, Jammu, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and now his home turf, Sehore, addressed a crowd of farmers. He lauded India's rapid progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In his stirring speech, Chouhan announced that acceptance letters for nearly 800,000 new homes have been distributed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The eligibility criteria for the program have been broadened to cover families earning up to Rs 15,000 annually, two-wheeler owners, and landholders with up to 2.5 acres of irrigated or 5 acres of non-irrigated land.
Emphasizing the importance of women-led development, Chouhan highlighted the success of the Lakhpati Didi program and promised to complete all pending rural road projects under the PM Gram Sadak Yojana soon. He also hinted at providing Narmada water to Sehore and nearby villages promptly.
A major part of his address focused on the VKSA's six key goals—modernization of agriculture, food security, economic benefits, global leadership, bi-annual campaigns, and scientific outreach—all geared towards transforming Indian agriculture by the year 2047. He called on farmers to join the VKSA movement and help shape a new future for Indian agriculture.
Insights:
- The Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan initiative concentrates on modernizing agriculture, ensuring food security, bolstering economic benefits, and positioning India as the world's primary food provider through scientifically sound, climate-resilient, and farmer-centric strategies.
- The campaign encompasses six key objectives, namely enhancing production, curbing expenses, guaranteeing fair pricing, offering compensation for crop losses, promoting crop diversity and value addition, and fostering organic and natural farming practices.
- The VKSA strategy entails conducting bi-annual programs, disseminating advancements in agricultural science to rural communities, collaborating with institutions like the Ministry of Agriculture, ICAR, State Departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), utilizing digital platforms, and integrating AI-based irrigation systems to optimize farm operations.
- In line with the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (Progressive Agriculture Pact), the Union Agriculture Ministry's focus on policy-and-legislation is aimed at modernizing agriculture, ensuring food security, and bolstering economic benefits through scientifically sound, climate-resilient, and farmer-centric strategies.
- Beyond its six key goals—modernization of agriculture, food security, economic benefits, global leadership, bi-annual campaigns, and scientific outreach—the VKSA (Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan) strategy also involves politics, as it includes collaboration with various institutions and organizations, digital platforms, and AI-based irrigation systems to transform Indian agriculture by 2047.
