Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday marked the halfway milestone of the nationwide ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ by engaging directly with farmers in Punjab. The campaign, now in its eighth day, has connected with millions of farmers across India and is aimed at transforming agricultural practices by bridging the gap between research and the realities of the field.
The event was held in the presence of Punjab Agriculture Minister Shri Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, ICAR Director General Dr. M. L. Jat, and senior officials from Punjab Agricultural University, alongside scientists and local farming representatives.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Chouhan stressed that the campaign is designed to deliver practical scientific knowledge to the grassroots level, turning “lab to land” into a reality. Agricultural experts are actively visiting villages with localized knowledge to advise farmers on soil health, crop choices, pest control, and efficient use of agrochemicals. Data collected during these interactions is also helping guide agricultural research toward real-world challenges.
Sharing his personal commitment, the Minister recounted operating a tractor himself during one such field visit to understand farmers’ day-to-day difficulties. He affirmed that future agricultural policy will be built upon the grassroots insights gathered through this campaign.
Chouhan praised Punjab for its historic role as India’s food bowl, crediting its farmers with helping the country achieve food self-sufficiency. He recalled the era of dependence on imported wheat under the PL-480 agreement and emphasized how the Green Revolution, powered by Punjab’s farmers, had decisively ended that reliance.
The Minister highlighted India’s agricultural achievements under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, noting that all previous production records in wheat, rice, pulses, and oilseeds had been surpassed. He pointed to Punjab’s vast potential in horticulture and its capacity to produce high-quality fruits and vegetables for global markets.
Among the techniques promoted through the campaign, Shri Chouhan spotlighted Direct Seeding of Paddy (DSR) as a promising alternative to traditional transplanting. Farmers practicing DSR have reported comparable yields with significantly lower labor and water requirements, the Minister noted. He also cautioned against excessive pesticide use, urging balanced application to preserve both crop quality and input efficiency.
In his address, Chouhan laid out six core goals for Indian agriculture: increasing productivity, lowering production costs, ensuring fair pricing, compensating crop losses, encouraging crop diversification, and conserving natural resources for future generations.
He also welcomed Prime Minister Modi’s decision to revoke the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a long-overdue move in favor of Indian farmers. He said the treaty had disproportionately affected farming communities in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, and expressed optimism that India’s water resources would now be harnessed for its own agricultural needs.
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