The Impressive TimesDelhi ,June 10,- Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, is spearheading the ambitious Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA), a 15-day nationwide campaign launched on May 29, 2025, from Puri, Odisha. The initiative aims to bridge the critical gap between agricultural research and on-ground practices by directly connecting over 1.5 crore farmers across more than 700 districts with the expertise of 16,000 agricultural scientists and 2,170 interdisciplinary teams.
From Odisha to Telangana, the Minister has been engaging with farmers, agricultural experts, and local authorities to promote technology adoption, soil health, natural farming, crop diversification, and income enhancement.
Bhubaneswar, Odisha (May 29): VKSA was inaugurated in the presence of Odisha CM Shri Mohan Charan Majhi. Shri Chouhan emphasized science-led agricultural advancement and announced expert team deployments to support farmers in choosing better seeds, sustainable practices, and efficient resource use.
Jammu & Kashmir (May 30): Farmers in border areas were praised as the “second line of defence,” with Shri Chouhan lauding their resilience and contributions under difficult conditions.
Panipat, Haryana (May 31): The Minister interacted directly with farmers, reflecting on his personal farming background. He emphasized that a one-quintal yield increase per hectare can add 20 million tonnes to Kharif production.
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (June 1): In rural village gatherings, the Minister highlighted the campaign’s focus on boosting production, reducing input costs, and preventing post-harvest losses.
Motihari, Bihar: At the historic site in Piprakothi, the Minister announced ₹6 crore worth of projects under the local Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), promoting modern and localized agri-solutions.
Pune, Maharashtra (June 3): During a visit to local APMCs and farms, Shri Chouhan warned against fake fertilizers and pesticides, affirming a future strict law against such malpractice.
Patiala, Punjab (June 5): Promoting sustainable rice cultivation through Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR), the Minister stressed policy-making driven by farmer feedback, not bureaucracy.
Dehradun, Uttarakhand (June 6): Shri Chouhan praised the state’s high-quality produce and called for international branding, natural farming, and better water conservation efforts.
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (June 7): Responding to criticism, he reaffirmed the campaign’s scientific nature and praised India’s record production of key crops, calling it a result of coordinated field-level action.
Bengaluru, Karnataka (June 8): At the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Shri Chouhan engaged with 500 farmers, promoting demand-driven research and emphasizing sustainability.
Hyderabad, Telangana (June 9): Interacting with farmers in Ranga Reddy district, he emphasized crop diversification and integrated farming, announcing benefits under the Market Intervention Scheme for tomato, potato, and onion farmers.
Between May 29 and June 8, 2025:
46,181 field visits were made by expert teams.
85,480 villages were covered.
8.78 million farmers were directly engaged.
The campaign also saw the foundation laid for a Global Centre of Excellence on Millets at ICAR-IIMR Hyderabad, further aligning with the government’s push to diversify crop cultivation and improve nutritional security.
Chouhan reiterated the government’s dedication to the Lab-to-Land model and called on state governments, ICAR institutions, and KVKs to amplify the VKSA’s reach. He stressed adaptive research, scientist-farmer partnerships, and technology-based empowerment as essential pillars for building a self-reliant and developed Bharat.
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