Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Rural Development Minister
| Photo Credit:
ANI
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has asked the industry to work on a 5-point formula for the benefit of farmers, noting that corporates should come forward to help the government in achieving the larger objectives. His formula include private sector participation in taking technology to farmers, make them partners in the value chain and investment in green infrastructure.
Addressing an event at the CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development, Chouhan said that India could not afford to remain dependent on any other country as far as food security is concerned, considering the current West Asia conflict and Russia-Ukraine war.
The minister spoke about the need to improve soil health through balanced use of chemicals and fertilisers, efficient use of water, promotion of integrated farming, as well as natural farming, and adoption of climate-smart agriculture. He said that though he is not against rice-wheat cropping pattern, the country also needs pulses as it is currently dependent on import.
By growing pulses, nitrogen (N) deficiency will automatically be fixed whereas many farmers still prefer to grow rice (in Kharif) and then wheat (in Rabi) and also apply a lot of chemical fertilisers. Warning that the soil would stop producing crops if indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers is not checked, he said that every one should be concerned about the future generation, too.
Emphasising the need to take modern technology and research work to farmers’ fields, Chouhan asked CII also to extend its support in this direction. Pointing out that earlier scientists were not meeting farmers, he said after the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA), a 15-day campaign held during Kharif 2025, scientists were able to get direct feedback from farmers.
“(During VKSA) Farmers demanded research should be to improve the shelf life of certain produce, manage pest attacks in the O-0238 variety of sugarcane and also offered many suggestions,” Chouhan said at the “Rural Prosperity for Viksit Bharat: Advancing Sustainable Agriculture and Inclusive Growth” session at the summit. Scientists have been advised to visit farmers’ fields to assess the problem and then undertake demand-driven research programmes, he said.
But many agriculture scientists said that while 20 per cent of research work should be spared for meeting current demand, 60 per cent should go for unforeseen future. “No one knows what is stored ahead, still anticipating something and developing technologies will help India navigate complex issues after 10 years rather than waiting for crisis to arrive after 10 years to start research,” said a former director of a research institute of ICAR.
The minister asked captains of the industry to make investment in creating infrastructure in the agriculture sector. He suggested that the CSR fund should be utilised for capacity building. He also asked CII to work for making rural youth including women entrepreneurs so that jobs are created at grassroots. In another suggestion, he asked private sector to see how farmers can be partners in the agriculture value chain.
“Sustainable agriculture is not only an environmental agenda. It is also an economic agenda, a social agenda, an agenda of food security and farmer welfare, and ultimately, an agenda of national security,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Chouhan also blamed middlemen for surging onion prices and stressed the need to ensure that farmers get a reasonable income and consumers are not impacted by high rates. “Kya kisan ko pasine ke puri kimat milti hai? Kya bicholiye ko itna kamane ka adhikaar hai? Sarkar karvai kar rahi hai (Are farmers getting the real price for their hard work? Do middlemen have the right to profiteering from farmers’ effort? The government is taking action),” he said, seeking CII’s help for putting in place a mechanism to ensure farmers earn profit and consumers also do not have to pay high prices.
“We need to do something,” Chouhan said, adding that he has also formed a team for framing such a mechanism. Recently, Chouhan had asked ICAR to find a solution on reducing the gap between farm-gate and retail prices.
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