Ministry of Rural Development Commits to PM Modi's Shakti Ki Saptadhara Vision
Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan led a collective pledge program at the C. Subramaniam Auditorium, Pusa, to translate Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's 'Shakti Ki Saptadhara' vision into actionable ground implementation. The event, organized on August 18, 2026, brought together officials, employees, scientists, farmers, Lakhpati Didis, food processors, exporters, and representatives of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to commit to building a developed, prosperous, self-reliant, and empowered India.
Key Agricultural and Rural Development Targets
The government announced the achievement of creating three crore Lakhpati Didis (rural women with annual income of ₹1 lakh or more) and has now committed to a new target of creating six crore Lakhpati Didis, which is expected to bring major transformation to the rural economy. The program emphasized connecting Indian agriculture from farm to global markets by improving product quality, safety, and compliance with global standards for agricultural commodities including chillies, spices, fruits, flowers, and traditional food products.
Strategic Focus Areas
The Ministry outlined priorities to increase agricultural production while reducing costs, improving quality, and ensuring remunerative prices for farmers. Specific focus areas include natural farming, organic farming, chemical-free farming, irrigation, water conservation, crop diversification, and developing integrated farming systems based on local resources. The government plans to prepare separate agricultural roadmaps for every state and district considering varying climatic conditions, soil, water availability, and cropping patterns across different regions of India.
Implementation Framework
Department secretaries presented their respective roadmaps: Dr. Mangilal Jat (Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research) focused on agricultural research and new technologies; Shri Atish Chandra (Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare) addressed agricultural production and quality improvement; Shri Rohit Kansal (Secretary, Department of Rural Development) outlined priorities for the Lakhpati Didi initiative and rural livelihoods; and Shri Narendra Bhushan (Secretary, Department of Land Resources) discussed land conservation and water management.
Stakeholder Engagement and Market Connectivity
The program emphasized partnership among farmers, scientists, officials, processors, exporters, FPOs, and Self-Help Groups to strengthen the entire value chain from farm to market. Initiatives such as 'She-Marts' and branding will be promoted to provide better market access to products made by rural women, including handicrafts, food products, Ayurvedic products, and traditional goods for both domestic and international markets.