In Bhubaneswar, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated a day-long Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference on Tuesday, announcing a nationwide “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” (Save the Land Campaign). The initiative, set to launch on June 1 and continue for two weeks, aims to promote balanced fertilizer usage, improve soil health, and educate farmers about modern agricultural technologies and government schemes.
Chouhan emphasized the importance of preventing the diversion of subsidized fertilizers, ensuring they are used strictly for agricultural purposes. He stated, “We will not forbid them to buy. But attempts will be made to make them aware of not applying more chemical fertilizers than what is required for the soil.” The minister noted that the government plans to sell fertilizers based on land records once farmers’ IDs are established nationwide.
According to official records, fertilizer sales have increased during March and April, fueled by concerns about availability in the upcoming kharif season. As of May 18, the government reported a stock of 200.98 lakh tonnes of fertilizer—over 51% of the estimated 390.56 lakh tonnes needed for the kharif season—with assurances that the remaining demand would be met through both domestic production and imports.
In his address, Chouhan highlighted sustainable agriculture, stressing that balanced fertilizer use is crucial for maintaining soil health. He warned against the indiscriminate use of fertilizers, which can increase costs and compromise soil fertility. He urged state governments to guide farmers in using fertilizers in accordance with scientific requirements.
While Chouhan’s emphasis on balanced fertilizer use is not new, concerns have been raised about potential adverse effects on small farmers if their yields diminish due to reduced fertilizer application. A former scientist from ICAR warned that the government should direct its focus toward larger farmers who often use significant amounts of urea.
Describing counterfeit fertilizers, substandard seeds, and fake pesticides as serious offenses against farmers, Chouhan announced a large-scale campaign to combat these issues. He also called for stricter laws and more robust state actions to ensure farmers receive quality agricultural inputs without incurring unnecessary costs.
Chouhan proposed that the national Kharif conference be preceded by regional discussions to allow for a more targeted approach. Two previous regional conferences were already held in Jaipur and Lucknow.
The conference engaged representatives from Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal to discuss key agricultural transformation issues in eastern India. Topics included boosting pulses and oilseeds production, promoting integrated farming for small and marginal farmers, natural farming practices, establishing a farmer registry, improving horticulture, enhancing agricultural credit, reforming marketing strategies, controlling counterfeit agricultural inputs, and increasing farmers’ incomes.
Chouhan asserted that this conference serves as a vital platform for shaping a new agricultural direction, farmer livelihoods, and regional strategies in eastern India. He stressed that agriculture should not be limited to paddy and wheat, advocating for a greater emphasis on pulses, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, and other high-value crops, particularly given the significant potential of eastern India in these sectors.
Experts noted that while West Bengal is the leading producer of fruits and vegetables in the country, the eastern region is primarily rice-consuming, with limited wheat cultivation. They highlighted that incentives from the Chhattisgarh and Odisha governments for paddy cultivation could further exacerbate the issue of crop diversification, contrary to the Centre’s objectives.
Addressing the challenges posed by small landholdings in eastern states, Chouhan discussed the need for integrated farming—combining crops with horticulture, fisheries, livestock, beekeeping, and agro-forestry—to transition from mere slogans to practical implementation. However, experts pointed out that many farmers in Odisha and West Bengal are already engaged in such activities to diversify their incomes, suggesting a need for more targeted strategies to address the issues specific to the eastern region.
Published on May 19, 2026.
