Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Business Standard Manthan: Road map for making India future-ready

At the third edition of the BS summit, FM Sitharaman, Nitin Gadkari, will be among the thought leaders to deliberate on India's tremendous relevance across areas in a volatile geopolitical landscape

Centre aims for 6 crore 'Lakhpati Didis' by 2029-30: Shivraj Chouhan

Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said the Centre would strive to achieve the target of creating six crore 'Lakhpati Didis' under the rural livelihoods mission by 2029-30. He said the previous target set by PM Modi to create three crore 'Lakhpati Didis' by end of 2027 was achieved by 2025 with the contribution of rural development ministry's team, bankers and also state governments. Chouhan was speaking during the Central Level Coordination Commitee (CLCC) Meeting and the National Launch event under DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission here. Explaining the term, he said 'Lakhpati Didi' refers to a woman whose net come per year is one lakh rupees or more. As on date, 3.01 crore women have achieved this milestone. Addressing reporters, he said, "Now, Prime Minister has revised the target. He said now we have to make six crore (Lakhpati Didis). 10 crore sisters have joined us in Self Help Groups (SHGs). The target

Shivraj Singh Chouhan calls for making tree plantation a mass movement

Chouhan started the initiative on February 19, 2021, on Narmada Jayanti. He had planted saplings of 'Rudraksha' and 'Sal' at Amarkantak to mark the occasion

Shivraj Singh Chouhan calls for making tree planting a mass movement

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday stressed the need to make tree plantation a mass movement for protecting the environment and addressing the challenge of climate change. He was speaking at an event to mark the completion of five years of his pledge to plant at least one sapling everyday. Chouhan, who is also the minister of rural development, started this green initiative on February 19, 2021, on the occasion of Narmada Jayanti, when he planted saplings of 'Rudraksha' and 'Sal' at Amarkantak. The minister has planted more than 6,000 saplings in the last five years. Addressing the event, Chouhan announced that all the programmes organised by his two ministries would start with plantation of saplings. He also directed the officials of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to do the same. Plants should be given to honour the dignitaries in such programmes. After the successful completion of five years of his pledge, the minister emphasised the nee

Farm interests safeguarded in India-US trade deal: Agri Min Shivraj Chouhan

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said the India-US interim trade deal was finalised after careful consideration, with the government ensuring that no decision harms the farming community. Speaking at a programme here, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said, "I am speaking with full responsibility as the agriculture minister of India. In the trade agreement, we have taken complete care of the interests of Indian farmers. There will be no losses for India's farming community," he said. On imports, Chouhan said the country has to bring in the things it needs. "We are not self-sufficient when it comes to pulses even today. If something that we need comes from another country, what is the objection?" he asked. Similarly, he said, India imports around 5.5 lakh metric tonnes of apples. "They come from countries like Turkey and Iran. If one lakh metric tonnes (of apple) come from the United States, after ensuring that it does not affect our farmers, what

Farmers' interests safeguarded in India-US trade deal, reiterates Chouhan

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said the recent India-US trade deal was finalised after careful consideration and the government has ensured that no decision would harm the farming community. Speaking at a programme in Jaipur, he said, "I am speaking with full responsibility as the Agriculture Minister of India. In the trade agreement, we have taken complete care of the interests of Indian farmers. It has been ensured that there will be no loss for India's farming community," he said. On imports, Chouhan said the country has to bring in the things it need. "Even today, we are not self-sufficient when it comes to pulses. If something that we need comes from another country, what is the objection?" he asked. Similarly, he said, India imports around 5.5 lakh metric tonnes of apples. "They come from countries like Turkey and Iran. If one lakh metric tonnes come from the United States, after ensuring that it does not affect our farmers, what is the problem?"

Shivraj Singh Chouhan to launch AI-enabled Bharat VISTAAR on Tuesday

This facility will be launched in Hindi and English in Phase One across several states, including Maharashtra, Bihar and Gujarat

Shivraj Chouhan hits out at Congress for 'spreading lies' on US trade deal

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday launched a sharp attack on the opposition Congress for "spreading lies" about the India-US trade agreement, asserting that the Narendra Modi government has completely safeguarded the interests of the farming community. Addressing the 64th convocation ceremony of ICAR-IARI, Chouhan said that not only the trade deal with the US, but all free trade agreements with other countries, including the one with Europe, have been done in the national interest. "All the FTAs, including one with the EU and other countries, are all in the interest of the country. The deal with the US is in India's national interest and completely safeguarded. The interests of the farmers have been kept at the top," Chouhan said. In an apparent reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the minister said some people are creating a "ruckus" on this issue. "They are creating a ruckus and saying we are looted. We are ruined. Everything is destroyed. Nation is sold

Piyush Goyal slams Rahul Gandhi over US deal, says farmers fully protected

Commerce minister Piyush Goyal accused Rahul Gandhi of spreading lies on the India-US interim trade deal, asserting that farmers' interests were fully safeguarded and exports would rise

India aims for self-reliance in fruits, vegetables, flowers, says Chouhan

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday said India has set a clear target of achieving self-reliance in the production of fruits, vegetables, and flowers, asserting that imports in these sectors would no longer be necessary. Addressing a review meeting with officials at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) here, Chouhan said the focus was on identifying high-demand crops and ensuring that their domestic production is profitable for farmers. Outlining the government's approach, the minister said, "Our target is simple. We will not import fruits, flowers, and vegetables. We have to become self-reliant in these areas." The Union Minister for Rural Development, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare added that India had already made significant progress, calling current production levels "historic". Referring to crops previously dependent on imports, Chouhan said, "We were importing avocados; now we have started producing them." He stressed the need to extend th

Farmers' interest protected in trade deal, says Shivraj Singh Chouhan

The India-US trade deal reduces tariffs on Indian goods in the US to 18 per cent, while Washington has claimed the deal will help it export more agricultural products to New Delhi

No market opened for agriculture in India-US trade deal, says Chouhan

Chouhan said that, rather than compromising farmers' interests, the trade deal will open new avenues of opportunity for crops such as rice

Centre to bring new laws to provide legal protection to farmers: Chouhan

Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said the Centre will soon introduce new agricultural laws to provide strong legal protection to farmers. He asserted that exploitation of farmers through fake seeds, spurious fertilisers and counterfeit pesticides will no longer be tolerated, and warned of strict and punitive action against those harming the cultivators' interests. Chouhan made the remarks during his one-day visit to Chhattisgarh, during which he interacted with farmers in two villages of Durg district, an official statement said. "The hard work of farmers, their crops and their future cannot be compromised under any circumstances. The Centre has moved decisively towards strict and punitive action against elements causing losses to farmers through fake seeds, spurious fertilisers and counterfeit pesticides," the Union minister said. Those involved in supplying fake agricultural inputs are not just committing economic offences but ...

Seeds Bill to protect farmers, not open doors to foreign products: Chouhan

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday dismissed concerns over the draft Seeds Bill 2025, asserting that it protects farmers' rights to grow, sow, save, exchange and sell farm-saved seeds while introducing stringent penalties for production and sale of illegal seeds. Addressing the media, Chouhan said the government has proposed fines up to Rs 30 lakh to curb illegal seed production, a significant increase from the current Rs 500 penalty under the 1966 Seeds Act. "There is a misconception being spread that this will affect traditional seeds. That's not true," he said. The minister clarified that the bill's provisions are not applicable to farmers and farmer varieties, including traditional varieties. "Farmers can sow their own seeds. Farmers can give seeds to other farmers," he said, adding that the traditional system where farmers borrow seeds at planting time and return one and a quarter times the amount later will continue without disruption. For seeds sold by ...

10 states, 4 Union ministers to take part in World Economic Forum summit

The huge Indian delegation to the WEF Annual Meeting, to be held from January 19 to 23, comes in the context of India's efforts at diversifying its exports and its search for rare earth minerals

Centre pushes states to speed up farm scheme spending, flags fund delays

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday urged states to adopt a strategic approach to budget utilisation, warning that delays in spending allocated funds result in losses for states and hamper the timely release of subsequent central instalments. Addressing a review meeting with state agriculture ministers, Chouhan said states must ensure funds earmarked for various schemes are spent before March to avoid administrative bottlenecks that delay the effective implementation of programmes. "If states are unable to spend their budgets on time, it only results in losses for them," the minister said, adding that budget allocations are often held up due to minor administrative and procedural issues. The meeting reviewed the progress and budget utilisation of central agriculture schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) and Krishonnati Yojana (KY). Chouhan stressed the need for prompt verification of eligible farmers under the PM-KISA

Punjab govt's move against VB-G RAM G Act unconstitutional: Shivraj Chouhan

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said the move to bring a resolution against the VB-G RAM G Act in the Punjab assembly was undemocratic and against the basic spirit of the Constitution, which reflected "blind opposition" politics. Addressing a press conference here, Chouhan said it is the Constitutional responsibility of states to abide by Parliamentary laws. The AAP government on Tuesday brought a resolution against the VB-G RAM G Act in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and accused the BJP-led Centre of trying to finish the MGNREGA. Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond tabled the resolution in the House for discussion during the one-day session of the assembly. Chouhan targeted opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, saying he lives in a "world of imagination" and has no connection with the realities of the country. "Speaking out whatever comes to one's mind is not responsible politics," Chouhan said. He was referring to Gandhi's recent claim that

VB-G RAM G to address labour shortage during peak farm season: Minister

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said the recently passed Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act addresses the labour shortage faced during peak farm seasons. The VB-G RAM G Act, which replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), was passed in Parliament last week. Addressing virtually on the occasion of Farmers Day, Chouhan said the law strikes a balance between the welfare of farmers and labourers, according to an official statement. "VB-G RAM G is extremely useful in the broader interest of the country, as it empowers and makes the farming community self-reliant. While the VB-G RAM G fully takes care of the upliftment of labourers, it also focuses on farmers, ensuring sufficient labourers are available for farming," he said. The minister pointed out that farmers often face difficulty in finding labourers during sowing and harvesting seasons. "Now with this new law, this problem wil

Govt to bring stringent seed law in Budget session 2026: Shivraj Chouhan

The government plans to introduce legislation with stringent provisions to regulate seed quality during the budget session of Parliament early next year, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Thursday. Addressing an event on Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs), Chouhan said the amendments are aimed at ensuring quality inputs for the farming community. The minister said about 46 per cent of the country's population still depends on farming for their livelihood, and ensuring better income to farmers is a key government priority. "We are going to bring the seed law in the budget session of parliament (early 2026)," Chouhan said, adding that there would be stringent provisions to check the sale and distribution of substandard quality seeds. He said genetically modified seeds are not allowed, and research is underway to develop better varieties. The amendments to the Seeds Act at the central government level remain under active development but have not yet been formally

Centre committed to increasing farmers' income, says Shivraj Singh Chouhan

The central government is committed to increasing agriculture production and enhancing farmers' income, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Saturday. He said that four low-production districts of Tamil Nadu viz. Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Tuticorin, and Virudhunagar have been included in the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana. Under this, 36 schemes of 11 central ministries were being integrated to deliver comprehensive benefits to farmers. We will work to increase production in these districts and make farmers prosperous, he said at the Chaupal programme at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra here He interacted with farmers and officials of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra and explained about the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Yojana and the Pulses Mission. The farmers here are very hardworking and are doing excellent work for natural farming, he said lauding the ryots of Tamil Nadu. He assured that concrete steps will be taken to address pest and disease