Agricultural Policy Initiative Witnesses Success, Persists According to Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Continuation of Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan
Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan Wraps Up: Over a Million Farmers Engaged, Future Focus on Targeted Crop Development
India's massive farming overhaul campaign, the 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan', has wrapped up, successfully reaching more than a million farmers across the nation from May 29 to June 12. The grand initiative was carried out in 1.43 lakh villages, with the minister hailing it as a monumental step towards achieving a "Viksit Bharat" through agriculture.
The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, praised the scheme as a mission—One Nation, One Agriculture, One Team—that demonstrated the resolve to revolutionize Indian agriculture. The campaign empowered agricultural scientists and experts to spread knowledge about advanced technologies, region-specific issues, and best practices through 60,281 grassroots-level programs.
The 15-day campaign brought forth over 500 researchable issues, more than 70 policy recommendations, and 300 farmer-led innovations, all of which will provide essential insights into future agricultural policy and planning. In addition, the campaign's special focus fell on tribal, isolated, and aspirational districts, ensuring even the remotest farmers had a voice.
The minister addressed concerns over seed and pesticide quality during the campaign, promising stringent changes to the Seed Act to guarantee only high-quality seeds are available to farmers. Suggestions raised in the course of the campaign will be seriously considered in the crafting of future policies and initiatives.
Post-campaign, a special soybean farmers event is slated for Indore on June 26, with similar crop-focused programs in the works for cotton, sugarcane, pulses, and oilseeds. The minister emphasized that this campaign is an ongoing mission with scientists and officials expected to invest more time in the field to address farmers' concerns.
The 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' witnessed participation from numerous high-profile figures, including Chief Ministers, Union and State Ministers, MPs, and MLAs. The minister restated the government's commitment to agricultural modernization by having scientists engage with farmers three days a week on an ongoing basis.
Experts predict that the 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' will finally bridge the gap between lab research and practical implementation while establishing a robust foundation for long-term food security and India's position as a global agricultural leader.
Related Links:
- Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan Concludes in Gujarat: Over 1 Crore Farmers Reached, Focus Shifts to 7.5 Lakh Hectares of Natural Farming This Year
- Relaunch of Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan for Rabi Crop & Future Plans: What Lies Ahead for Indian Agriculture
Follow-up Measures Post-Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan:
The future strategy following the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan will focus primarily on regional, crop-specific initiatives, primarily through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) acting as local hubs for scientific extension and farmer engagement. Key features of this approach include:
- District-Level Interventions: Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) will be designated as nodal agencies in every district, enabling district-level teams to address region-specific farming challenges, ensuring that crop-specific issues receive focused attention at the grassroots level.
- Deepened Farmer-Scientist Collaboration: To strengthen the integration of scientific research with practical farming, KVK scientists will be expected to spend at least three days a week in the field. This will foster closer collaboration between researchers and farmers, allowing scientists to customize crop-specific technologies and solutions to suit local challenges while scaling best practices nationally.
- Policy Influence based on Feedback: The insights gathered during the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, including over 500 researchable issues, 70+ policy recommendations, and 300 farmer-led innovations, will be leveraged to inform future agricultural policy and planning. This will enable targeted crop support based on feedback received from farmers.
- Prioritizing Remote and Aspirational Districts: Crop-specific initiatives will prioritize inclusivity by focusing on tribal, remote, and aspirational districts, customizing interventions for diverse agro-climatic conditions to ensure that all farmers, regardless of their location, benefit from advanced agricultural development initiatives.
- Integrated Crop Development Vision: The "One Nation, One Agriculture, One Team" ethos signifies a commitment to unified, evidence-based crop development strategies that address local challenges while prioritizing widespread adaptation of best practices, ultimately driving growth in India's agricultural sector.
The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced that the future strategy following the 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' will primarily focus on regional, crop-specific initiatives. This will involve Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) as local hubs for scientific extension and farmer engagement, with district-level interventions and deepened farmer-scientist collaboration.
Policy recommendations and insights gathered during the 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan', such as over 500 researchable issues, 70+ policy recommendations, and 300 farmer-led innovations, will be leveraged to inform future agricultural policy and planning. This approach aims to provide targeted crop support based on farmer feedback and prioritizing remote and aspirational districts.
