On the second day of the National Agriculture Conference – Kharif Campaign 2026, held at Pusa, New Delhi, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan held comprehensive discussions with state agriculture ministers, senior officials, scientists and progressive farmers on the holistic development of Indian agriculture. He emphasised that accelerating agricultural growth now requires time-bound, result-oriented and farmer-centric action driven by policy, innovation and commitment. The strong participation of state agriculture ministers transformed the conference into a powerful ‘Team India’ platform for agricultural advancement.
Organised by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, the second day of the conference witnessed significant participation from agriculture ministers, senior agricultural officials, scientists and progressive farmers from across the country. The conference, chaired by Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, was attended by Union Ministers of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur and Shri Bhagirath Choudhary. Among the dignitaries present were Odisha Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo; Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Shri Surya Pratap Shahi; Bihar Agriculture Minister Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha; Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Shri Kirori Lal Meena; Maharashtra Minister Shri Jayprakash Jaykumar Rawal; Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Minister Shri Edal Singh Kansana; Chhattisgarh Agriculture Minister Shri Ramvichar Netam; Gujarat Agriculture Minister Shri Jitubhai Savjibhai Vaghani; Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister Shri R. Vinod; Haryana Agriculture Minister Shri Shyam Singh Rana; Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister Shri Gabriel D. Wangsu; Meghalaya Agriculture Minister Shri Ampareen Lyngdoh; Mizoram Agriculture Minister Shri P. C. Vanlalruata; Tripura Agriculture Minister Shri Ratan Lal Nath; Sikkim Agriculture Minister Shri Puran Kumar Gurung; West Bengal Minister Shri Ashok Kirtania; and Assam Panchayati Raj & Rural Development Minister Shri Atul Bora. Union Agriculture Secretary Shri Atish Chandra, Director General of ICAR Dr. M. L. Jat, and senior officials from various states also participated in the extensive deliberations.
Addressing the people, Shri Chouhan described the conference as a historic meeting of the ‘Agriculture Team of India.’ He said the conference hall reflected the spirit of ‘Mini India,’ united with a common resolve to work collectively for national interest, farmer welfare and agricultural development. Stressing the importance of leadership, he remarked that when ministers personally lead initiatives, greater speed, seriousness and tangible results become visible.
Shri Chouhan said India has achieved unprecedented success in food-grain production. According to the third advance estimates, the country’s total food-grain production has reached approximately 376.563 million tonnes, the highest ever recorded. He attributed this achievement to the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the hard work of farmers, scientific research and active cooperation from the states. He further noted with pride that India has emerged as the world leader in rice production, while substantial progress has also been achieved in wheat, maize, pulses and oilseeds production.
Shri Chouhan stated that while these achievements are significant, the country cannot afford to slow down. India must further strengthen food security, increase farmers’ income, make agriculture more profitable and accord equal importance to nutritional security. He said agriculture is not merely about production, but the lifeline of the nation, and therefore everyone associated with the agriculture sector must work in mission mode.
During the conference, the Union Minister urged states to personally review the implementation of the Pulses Mission, Oilseeds Mission, Cotton Mission and other major agricultural campaigns. He also called upon scientists to undertake faster, practical and demand-driven research aligned with farmers’ needs. Special emphasis was laid on developing short-duration and more suitable crop varieties, particularly for tur, soybean and oilseed crops.
On the issue of seed availability, Shri Chouhan adopted a firm and serious stance. He said quality seed is the first and most essential requirement for agricultural productivity. Despite adequate seed availability in the country, farmers often do not receive seeds at the right time, which he termed a matter of concern. He directed all states to lift breeder seed and other essential seeds on time, strengthen distribution systems and ensure timely seed availability to farmers during the Kharif season. He also stressed that poor-quality seeds must not enter the market under any circumstances and called for strict monitoring and effective action against violations. He informed that a national-level seed reserve mechanism has been established to deal with emergency situations so that seeds can be supplied immediately to affected regions whenever required. He also urged states to remain prepared at the district level for low rainfall or other challenging conditions.
Shri Chouhan laid special emphasis on fertilisers, Soil Health Cards and Farmer IDs. He said Soil Health Cards should not remain mere documents, but must be actively utilised at the field level to help farmers understand nutrient deficiencies and appropriate fertiliser application. He urged states to encourage balanced fertiliser use through the ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ campaign. Highlighting the ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan,’ Shri Chouhan said it should not remain confined to a departmental programme but should become a mass participation movement. He informed that under khet Bachao abhiyan from June 1 to June 30, public representatives, scientists, officials and farmers would jointly undertake field-level awareness activities. Through village-level outreach programmes, farmers would be informed about soil health, balanced fertiliser use, quality seeds, proper pesticides, KCC benefits, government schemes and modern agricultural technologies.
Describing Farmer ID as the foundation of a transparent, targeted and efficient future farmer service system, Shri Chouhan also stressed the need for transparency in fertiliser distribution, prevention of black marketing and ensuring proper supply to genuine farmers. He stated that despite rising global prices, the Government of India remains committed to protecting farmers’ interests, while also ensuring that fertilisers are used strictly for agricultural purposes and not misused.
On agricultural credit and Kisan Credit Cards, the Union Minister stated that timely access to capital is critical for profitable farming. He acknowledged that while some states have performed well in agricultural credit flow, many parts of eastern and northeastern India still lag behind. He announced that discussions with banks would soon be held to expand access to agricultural credit in coordination with states. He also urged states to review pending Kisan Credit Card cases and strengthen loan systems based on the actual needs of farmers.
Speaking on agricultural mechanisation, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan stressed that merely distributing machines is not enough. It is equally important to ensure that the right machine reaches the right farmer and is effectively utilised. He called for a review of the effectiveness of Custom Hiring Centres and urged states to ensure machine availability according to local requirements. He also advocated transparent selection systems, online applications and public distribution mechanisms as good governance practices.
On horticulture, the Union Minister said India possesses enormous potential in fruit and vegetable production. The objective now should not only be increasing production but also producing export-quality crops. He noted that due to procedural complexities, the benefits of several schemes often fail to reach farmers on time, and therefore concrete steps towards simplification are essential.
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan delivered a stern message against fake seeds, substandard pesticides and defective agricultural inputs. He said those selling counterfeit and poor-quality products to farmers are not merely committing economic offences but causing national damage. He urged states to intensify inspections, increase sampling, establish accredited laboratories and ensure strict action against offenders until final conviction. He also indicated that efforts are underway to introduce a stronger and more effective legal framework for regulating pesticides.
Speaking on the crop insurance scheme, Shri Chouhan emphasised that timely relief to farmers is of utmost importance. He stressed the need to fix accountability among banks, insurance companies and state governments. He clearly stated that after collecting premiums, timely transfer to concerned agencies, proper assessment of crop loss and prompt payment to eligible farmers must be ensured. He warned that accountability would be fixed in cases of unnecessary delays in compensation.
On procurement of pulses and oilseeds, the Union Minister stated that unless farmers receive remunerative prices, they will not be encouraged to cultivate these crops. He emphasised better implementation of schemes like PM-AASHA, timely procurement and active state participation. According to him, price support and procurement systems are vital for achieving self-reliance in pulses and oilseeds.
Shri Chouhan also elaborated on the role of FPOs, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and agricultural universities. He said Krishi Vigyan Kendras can become a powerful medium for taking research, innovation and technology directly to the grassroots. For this, stronger coordination is needed among states, agricultural universities, scientists, progressive farmers and agriculture students. He also described FPOs as an important mechanism to strengthen farmers’ market power.
The Union Minister stated that every state should now prepare its own agriculture roadmap based on agro-climatic conditions, available resources and local potential. He assured that the Central Government, scientific institutions and the ministry’s entire team are fully prepared to work with states in this direction. He reiterated that the Centre would provide all necessary support in the interest of farmers.
Concluding his address, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that rules and procedures exist for the convenience of farmers, farmers do not exist for rules. Therefore, unnecessary complexities must be removed wherever they exist. He urged states to share suggestions openly and reiterated that the impact of governance should be visible not merely in files, but in people’s lives. He said Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has consistently emphasised reforms, and expressed confidence that under the Prime Minister’s guidance, with the cooperation of states, the efforts of scientists and the hard work of farmers, India will achieve new heights in agriculture.
He further stated that India will not only meet its own requirements but will emerge as a strong global example in food-grains, fruits, vegetables, pulses, oilseeds and other agricultural products.
