Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Linking farm prosperity with rural infrastructure, Chouhan announced central approval for 374 rural roads in Uttar Pradesh under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, with an allocation of Rs 544.62 crore.
Improved connectivity, he said, would ease transport of produce to markets. He also said the Centre has cleared procurement of sesame and groundnut in the state. The campaign aims to build awareness on soil conservation, balanced nutrient use and sustainable farming. The programme began with a plantation drive on the institute campus, attended by scientists, senior agriculture officials and farmers.
Lucknow: Union Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday urged farmers to prioritise soil health over maximising output, cautioning that excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides is steadily degrading agricultural land even as India’s foodgrain stocks remain comfortable.
Speaking at a farmers’ interaction under the ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ at ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research (IISR) in Lucknow, Chouhan said the next challenge for Indian agriculture is to sustain production without compromising the soil that supports it. With the country self-sufficient in foodgrain and emerging as the world’s largest rice producer, he said the focus must shift to conserving natural resources. Overuse of chemical fertilisers, he said, weakens soil quality, while indiscriminate pesticide spraying harms beneficial organisms vital for farm ecology. Crop rotation and integrated farming, he said, could improve sustainability and profitability.
Chouhan advised farmers to use Soil Health Cards to test their fields and apply fertilisers only as per actual requirements. Pitching for natural farming, the minister suggested that farmers with five bighas should begin by adopting natural practices on at least one bigha to evaluate results and scale up gradually. He also stressed crop diversification, asking farmers not to rely on a single crop and to consider fruits, vegetables, pulses and other options suited to local conditions.