Union Minister Concludes Khet Bachao Abhiyan and Launches Haryana FPO Mission
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan participated in the concluding ceremony of the 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' (Save the Farm Campaign) and launched the Haryana Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) Mission at the College of Agriculture in Bawal, Rewari district, Haryana. The event was chaired by Haryana Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini, with Haryana Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries Shri Shyam Singh Rana as guest of honor.
The Minister emphasized that India's vision of becoming a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) depends on prosperous farmers and praised Haryana's agricultural policies, noting that the state provides Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 24 crops and has implemented the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana with price-deficiency compensation extending to horticultural crops, vegetables, and fruits. He highlighted Haryana's initiatives including 'Meri Fasal, Mera Byora' (My Crop, My Record) and 'Mera Pani, Meri Virasat' (My Water, My Heritage) as models for other states.
Expressing serious concern about soil health degradation, Shri Chouhan warned that excessive and imbalanced use of fertilizers and pesticides, particularly urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP), is making agricultural soil sick by increasing acidity, creating nutrient imbalances, and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. He emphasized that this practice ultimately affects crop quality and human health, potentially leading to future food security crises if unchecked.
The government is developing a technological solution where farmers' Soil Health Card information will be available through a mobile application, enabling farmers to access soil nutrient composition data instantly and determine precise fertilizer requirements while standing in their fields. This aims to reduce input costs, improve productivity, and promote scientific farming practices.
Shri Chouhan advocated for natural farming, stating that it does not reduce productivity when practiced correctly, and encouraged farmers to dedicate at least a small portion of land to natural farming to observe benefits firsthand. He noted that excessive chemical use has destroyed beneficial microorganisms and reduced earthworm populations in agricultural soils.
Addressing climate concerns, the Minister noted forecasts of lower rainfall in certain Haryana districts due to El Niño and mentioned joint efforts by central and state governments to promote crop varieties requiring less water and having shorter maturity periods. He specifically highlighted Haryana's incentive of ₹8,000 per acre for farmers shifting from paddy cultivation to pulses, which reduces groundwater pressure while improving soil fertility and diversifying cropping patterns.
Significantly, Shri Chouhan announced that the 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' would transition from a campaign to a long-term national mission, with his personal commitment to participate in related programs across different states at least one day every week. The mission aims to create a nationwide movement encouraging balanced fertilizer use, soil health restoration, and sustainable agricultural practices through sustained farmer engagement.
The ceremony concluded with a collective pledge administered to farmers, women, and youth to join the 'Save the Fields, Save the Earth' movement, committing to balanced fertilizer use and environmentally sustainable farming practices. The Minister affirmed continued collaboration between the central government and progressive states like Haryana to develop a comprehensive national agricultural roadmap.