Shivraj Singh Chouhan Unveils Eastern India Agriculture Roadmap in Bhubaneswar

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said Eastern India’s agriculture sector can achieve new heights through a region-specific and state-specific roadmap jointly prepared by the Centre and state governments.

Addressing a press conference during the Eastern Regional Kharif Agriculture Zonal Conference in Bhubaneswar, Chouhan said the conference involving Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal focused on key issues such as food security, nutrition, crop diversification, integrated farming, pulses and oilseeds production, balanced fertilizer use, horticulture and agricultural infrastructure.

The Union Minister said India’s diverse agro-climatic conditions require region-based planning instead of a single national approach. He noted that the zonal conference system allows detailed discussions and targeted solutions according to regional agricultural needs.

Highlighting the Centre’s priorities under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chouhan said the government aims to ensure food security, improve nutritional availability and strengthen farmers’ income and livelihoods. He said a six-point strategy focusing on increasing productivity, reducing costs, ensuring remunerative prices, compensation for losses and promoting diversification has been adopted.

Chouhan stressed the need for self-reliance in pulses and oilseeds production and said crop diversification is essential for protecting soil health. He said integrated farming models combining horticulture, fisheries, animal husbandry, beekeeping and agro-forestry could significantly boost farmers’ income, especially for small and marginal farmers in Eastern India.

The Minister announced that a nationwide ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ will be launched from June 1 to June 15 to promote balanced fertilizer use, soil health awareness and farmer education. He warned that excessive use of fertilizers adversely impacts soil fertility, crop quality and human health.

Describing Farmer ID as a transformative initiative, Chouhan said it would digitally integrate details related to farmers’ landholdings, crops and families, ensuring transparency in credit delivery, DBT transfers and fertilizer distribution.

He also highlighted the potential of rice fallow lands in Eastern India for pulses and oilseeds cultivation under government missions. Farmers will receive quality seeds, incentives and procurement support under the PM-AASHA scheme for crops such as urad, masoor and tur.

To strengthen value addition, the Minister announced subsidies for setting up dal mills and oil mills at the local level. He further said the government is preparing stricter laws through a new Pesticide Act and Seed Act to curb fake pesticides and substandard seeds.

Chouhan also stressed the need to expand horticulture, cold storage and cold chain infrastructure in Eastern India through schemes such as MIDH, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund and PM Kisan Sampada Yojana.

He said the government would continue working with agricultural universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and scientists to ensure modern technologies and best farming practices reach farmers effectively.