Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will administer a pledge to officials of both ministries at the Pusa campus in New Delhi on August 18, following the 'Sapt Dhara of Shakti' outlined by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address on August 15. The program will focus on the roadmap of various departments, the expansion of the Lakhpati Didi program, and important decisions concerning the interests of farmers and rural communities.
The meeting aims to translate the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 into a clear and actionable roadmap for agriculture and rural development. Progressive farmers, Lakhpati Didis, agricultural exporters, and food processors will also participate in the program. Shri Chouhan stated that the government would work to turn this vision into action through people-centric programs, transparent monitoring, and effective implementation, with the aim of ensuring that farmers and rural women benefit directly.
The 'Sapt Dhara of Shakti' includes strengthening agriculture and food production, promoting food processing, and expanding access to global markets as important priorities. The Prime Minister reiterated the government's commitment to providing fertilizers to farmers at subsidized prices amid global crises and uncertainties, and highlighted the need to create new global markets and opportunities for farmers, particularly in agriculture and marine products including seafood.
A key focus will be the expansion of the Lakhpati Didi program, where three crore rural women have already become Lakhpati Didis, and Prime Minister Modi has set a new target of taking this number to six crore. Women associated with Self-Help Groups are being supported through skill development and financial assistance to strengthen their livelihoods and increase their incomes. Initiatives such as She-Marts have been included in the Union Budget to strengthen market access for women-led enterprises, helping women find better markets for their products and build stronger rural enterprises.