NEW DELHI: Facing a challenging sowing season due to predictions of a weak monsoon and rising input costs for fertilizers and diesel, the Centre will initiate a month-long nationwide campaign on Monday aimed at promoting balanced and judicious use of agricultural inputs. The campaign, named Khet Bachao Abhiyan, seeks to provide timely assistance to farmers in response to weather-related challenges and ensure the direct implementation of various farm-related schemes in villages.
The primary objectives of the campaign include encouraging the use of green manure, organic and bio products, and implementing precision irrigation techniques to optimize water usage. Ahead of the campaign’s launch in Ramsiya village in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted the importance of raising awareness and executing practical interventions. He pointed to the increasing temperatures, unsustainable use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, declining soil health, and the escalating impacts of climate change as critical concerns.
“Constructive suggestions will be provided regarding the dos and don’ts, appropriate crop choices, crop diversification, and strategies for farming during water scarcity or other risks,” Chouhan stated. He emphasized that the campaign aims not merely to convey a message but to deliver practical advice to farmers tailored to their specific situations.
In light of forecasts indicating a weak monsoon amid heightened risks related to El Niño, the agriculture ministry has already instructed states to adopt measures such as promoting drought-resistant crop varieties, offering weather-based agro-advisory services, managing water efficiently, and developing location-specific adaptation strategies to mitigate agricultural losses.
Chouhan urged states to prepare for the anticipated adverse weather conditions and noted that he would visit various villages throughout the campaign to engage directly with farmers. He has also consulted with chief ministers and other stakeholders, including agricultural scientists, to encourage their involvement in the initiative.
Additionally, Chouhan stressed the importance of ensuring that the advantages of various schemes—such as the Kisan Credit Card, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, the Crop Insurance Scheme, Soil Health Cards, Mini Seed Kits, and initiatives related to Pulses and Oilseeds Mission and Agricultural Mechanization—are effectively communicated and made accessible to farmers.
