The Impressive TimesNew Delhi, May 18, 2026: Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has unveiled a comprehensive package of reforms aimed at simplifying agricultural governance, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and enhancing ease of doing business for farmers, traders, and agri-sector stakeholders under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Reform Express” initiative.
During a high-level review meeting of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Chouhan emphasized accelerating governance reforms to make agricultural systems more transparent, technology-driven, and efficient across India.
Among the major announcements, the licensing process for the sale and storage of household pesticides has been significantly simplified. The application process has been reduced from a cumbersome three-page form to a single-page format, while traditional physical product leaflets have been replaced by QR code-based digital information systems. This reform is expected to benefit more than 40 lakh retailers and shopkeepers dealing in common household pest-control products.
The Ministry has also streamlined the approval process for new fertilisers by removing the earlier dual-committee approval mechanism under the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985. Going forward, only the Central Fertilizer Committee will oversee approvals, reducing delays and improving market access for innovative agricultural inputs.
To strengthen agricultural trade efficiency, all 649 customs ports across the country have now been digitally integrated through seamless connectivity between the Plant Quarantine Management System and ICEGATE. Importers of agricultural commodities will now be able to complete the process through a single digital application, significantly reducing paperwork and delays.
Further reforms include the abolition of the EXIM Committee and the removal of prior recommendation requirements for the import-export of seeds and planting materials, making agricultural trade more business-friendly.
A key technological initiative reviewed during the meeting was the Bharat-VISTAAR AI in Agriculture platform, which serves as a unified digital resource for farmers. Since its launch in February 2026, the platform has reportedly handled over 44 lakh farmer queries, replacing the need for farmers to navigate multiple fragmented information portals.
The government is also considering additional reforms that may exempt certain inorganic fertilisers meeting safety standards from mandatory field trials, potentially accelerating the introduction of new fertiliser technologies in India.
Chouhan directed ministry officials to further intensify reform efforts, stressing that the broader goal is to create faster, simpler, and more effective systems for all agricultural stakeholders while ensuring better governance and improved farmer welfare.
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