Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the Rabi Campaign 2026 at the National Agriculture Conference in New Delhi, emphasizing data-driven planning and climate-resilient agriculture strategies. The conference was attended by Union Ministers of State Shri Ram Nath Thakur and Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, Secretary Atish Chandra, ICAR Director General Dr. M.L. Jat, and senior officials from central and state governments.
Shri Chouhan identified water budget assessment as the critical parameter for Rabi planning, directing states and districts to prioritize less water-intensive crops like pulses and oilseeds in water-scarce areas. He expressed concern over below-normal rainfall and drought conditions affecting nearly two-thirds of Maharashtra (which has declared drought) and Karnataka facing drought-like conditions. Central teams will conduct ground assessments in Karnataka on October 3 and subsequently in Maharashtra, with the Minister personally visiting affected states.
States must finalize their Rabi plans by September 29, specifically indicating areas for pulses cultivation including chana, masoor, and mustard. The Minister emphasized timely availability of quality seeds, noting that some states delay seed demand placement and distribution, resulting in farmers receiving seeds after the sowing window. Procurement arrangements must be planned alongside production, with Central agencies NAFED and NCCF ready to undertake direct procurement if states cannot ensure timely procurement. The Price Support Scheme (PSS) has been approved for large-scale procurement of pulses and oilseeds.
The government is spending approximately ₹2 lakh crore on fertilizer subsidy, maintaining prices at ₹266 per bag for urea and ₹1,350 per bag for DAP. Shri Chouhan called for balanced fertilizer use through the expansion of 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' to Rabi season, citing examples from southern states where fertilizer use declined without affecting production. He also emphasized timely fertilizer distribution and pilot initiatives using Farmer ID to prevent diversion and black marketing.
For natural farming, the focus shifts to branding, marketing, and certification, with states like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Himachal Pradesh cited as successful examples. On farmer credit, while 9.54 crore farmer families are covered under PM-KISAN, Kisan Credit Card coverage remains inadequate for small and marginal farmers, requiring states to address banking-level bottlenecks.
The Minister mandated weekly monitoring of crop conditions, sowing progress, germination, pest attacks, disease outbreaks, and market prices in every state to enable timely interventions. The two-day conference will feature thematic discussions on self-reliance, diversification, sustainability, climate resilience, digital agriculture, infrastructure, financing, and risk management, culminating in a coordinated action plan for Rabi 2026.