A day after the national launch of the ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’, which commenced on June 1 from Ramsiya village in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has held a virtual interaction with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutions, agricultural universities, senior agricultural officials of the Central and State Governments, and others working for farmers’ welfare across the country. 

During the interaction, he called for advancing the campaign with public participation, a scientific approach, and a sense of national responsibility. 

Shri Chouhan said he had spoken over the phone with the Chief Ministers of all states to seek their participation in this important initiative. He is also appealing to Union Ministers and other public representatives to actively associate themselves with the campaign.

On the occasion, Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in his motivational address, said that this is not merely a government programme but a national campaign aimed at protecting Mother Earth, securing the future of agriculture, and safeguarding the rights of future generations. He said that rising temperatures, the indiscriminate and imbalanced use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, the deterioration of soil health, and the growing climate crisis have emerged as serious challenges before agriculture. Therefore, timely awareness generation and practical interventions have become essential.

Shri Chouhan explained that the nationwide ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’, beginning from Ramsiya village in Raisen district on June 1. The campaign focussed on creating awareness among farmers regarding balanced fertiliser use, soil testing, Soil Health Cards, natural farming, crop selection, water conservation, green manuring, alternative agricultural practices in conditions of low rainfall, and the identification of counterfeit fertilisers, seeds and pesticides.

Highlighting the crucial role of state agriculture departments, Shri Chouhan said that the campaign could succeed only if the Centre, State Governments, ICAR, agricultural universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, public representatives, students and farmer-support organisations worked together in a coordinated manner. He also stressed the need to involve Members of Parliament, legislators and other elected representatives in the campaign and encouraged them to present practical examples of natural farming and sustainable agricultural practices.

He called upon all stakeholders to visit villages with complete dedication, preparation and sensitivity, provide farmers with accurate information, and transform the resolve to protect Mother Earth into a mass movement. Shri Chouhan also announced that he himself would visit villages in different states during the campaign and interact directly with farmers.

During the virtual interaction, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Secretary Atish Chandra and ICAR Director General Dr. M. L. Jat also shared their views. Vice-Chancellors of agricultural universities, scientists, directors of ICAR institutions, scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendras, officials from state agriculture departments, and senior officers of the Central Government also participated in large numbers.