Shivraj Chouhan Launches ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’
Union Minister says 'Khet Bachao' campaign will become a nationwide movement to protect soil and empower farmers
- Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the Haryana FPO Mission and concluded the ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’.
- Union Minister called for balanced fertiliser use, natural farming and water conservation.
- Announced ‘Khet Bachao’ will become a national mission with weekly outreach across states.
- Praised Haryana’s farmer-centric initiatives as a model for the country.
GG News Bureau
Rewari, 30th June: Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday announced that the ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ (Save the Farm Campaign) will be transformed into a nationwide mission, calling for balanced fertiliser use, natural farming and water conservation to secure India’s agricultural future.
Addressing the concluding ceremony of the campaign and the launch of the Haryana Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) Mission at the College of Agriculture in Bawal, Rewari district, Chouhan said the vision of a Viksit Bharat can be realised only through prosperous and empowered farmers. The event was attended by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, state Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana, agricultural experts and farmers.
The Union Minister praised Haryana for its farmer-centric policies, including Minimum Support Price for 24 crops, the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana, and initiatives such as ‘Meri Fasal, Mera Byora’ and ‘Mera Pani, Meri Virasat’, saying they provide a model that other states should study and adopt.
Expressing concern over declining soil health, Chouhan urged farmers to avoid excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, stressing that fertiliser application should be based on scientific soil testing. He warned that indiscriminate use of urea and DAP damages soil fertility, disturbs nutrient balance and ultimately affects food quality and human health.
Highlighting the role of technology, the Minister said the government is working on a mobile-based system that will allow farmers to instantly access Soil Health Card data, identify nutrient deficiencies and determine the exact fertiliser requirement for their fields. He said such technology would reduce input costs while promoting scientific and sustainable farming.
Chouhan also encouraged farmers to adopt natural farming practices, saying they help restore soil biodiversity and reduce dependence on chemical inputs without compromising productivity. Referring to concerns over climate change and possible below-normal rainfall, he welcomed Haryana’s incentive of ₹8,000 per acre for farmers shifting from paddy cultivation to pulses, describing it as a step towards water conservation and climate-resilient agriculture.
Declaring that the campaign would now evolve into a long-term national mission, Chouhan said he would personally participate in ‘Khet Bachao’ programmes in different states every week to encourage balanced fertiliser use, healthy soil management and environmentally sustainable farming practices.
Concluding the programme, the Union Minister administered a collective pledge to farmers, women and youth to protect agricultural land, conserve natural resources and promote sustainable farming, expressing confidence that the Haryana model would inspire similar reforms across the country and strengthen India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat.
