Page 3 - Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Bihar has tremendous potential for agricultural development, says Shivraj

Maintaining that Bihar has tremendous potential for agricultural development, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said for a "developed India, agriculture must develop and farmers must also prosper". Chouhan said this on Monday when he visited Motihari, the district headquarters town of East Champaran district and interacted with farmers as part of his nationwide tour under the VKSA campaign. "I have come to Bihar to support and serve the farmers here and help increase agricultural productivity. For me, serving farmers is like worshipping God... 'Ek Rashtra, Ek Krishi, Ek Team' (one nation, one agriculture, one team) is the motto of this campaign," he said. "The Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA) of the Central government is a landmark initiative aimed at transforming Indian agriculture. For a developed India, agriculture must develop and farmers must also prosper.....Bihar has tremendous potential for agricultural development.....and

Farm export-import policy must balance grower, consumer interests: Chouhan

This year, rabi production has been good & overall food grain production in 2024-25 is almost 21.6 million tonnes more than what it was last year. We have touched a record high in wheat, Chouhan said

Policy changes, swift decisions made India 4th largest economy: Chouhan

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Monday that India's economy jumped from the 11th position in 2014 to the current fourth spot, due to policy changes and swift decision-making under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the second day of his Vikas Bharat Sankalp Padyatra' launched in his parliamentary constituency, Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, he expressed confidence that the country would soon become the third largest economy and even bag the number one position in future. During his foot march, Chouhan interacted with people from Bijla Jod, Chanda Grahan Jod and Bhairunda villages over the Centre's public welfare schemes. The Union minister, who had a long stint as the chief minister of MP, said that he had embarked on the foot march to fulfil PM Modi's pledge of building a developed India (Viksit Bharat). In 2014, our economy was number 11 in the world, but under the leadership of PM Modi, it gradually reached the fifth position and now India has become the fourth largest ..

India needs 5% agri growth yearly to become developed by 2047: Chouhan

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said India requires a five per cent annual growth rate in agriculture and allied sectors to become a developed nation by 2047. Chouhan highlighted that foodgrain is grown on 93 per cent of farmland, but the growth is just 1.5 per cent. "We are working towards bridging the yield gap in crops and achieving a national average yield... If we have to make India a developed nation by 2047, agriculture and allied sectors have to grow at 5 per cent annually," he said. He was speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual conference of Vice Chancellors of Agricultural Universities and Directors of ICAR Institutes. The minister expressed confidence that the five per cent annual growth rate is achievable, emphasising that various agricultural institutes play a key role in this endeavour. "Research plays a very important role in increasing agricultural production and reducing costs. Our target is to maintain an annual ...

India's farm sector growth may hit 3.5% in FY26: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announces farm tech outreach campaign ahead of kharif season and says India can achieve 3.5% growth in agriculture in FY26

India's farm sector growth to hit 3.5% in FY26: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said the country is likely to achieve 3.5 per cent farm sector growth rate during 2025-26, as he announced a pan-India 15-day campaign to educate farmers about new technologies before the ensuing kharif sowing. "Globally, agriculture growth of 1.5-2 per cent is considered to be good. India is achieving at least 3 to 3.5 per cent growth rate. We expect to achieve 3-3.5 per cent growth even in the next year (2025-26)," Chouhan said. According to the Economic Survey 2024-25, agriculture sector growth for the 2024-25 fiscal year is pegged at 3.8 per cent. The India Meteorological Department has predicted above-normal monsoon conditions this year, with the monsoon expected to reach Kerala by May 27, about five days ahead of the usual June 1 onset. Southwest monsoon contributes approximately 75 per cent of the country's annual rainfall, crucial for kharif crop cultivation. Sharing details about the 15-day kharif extension campaign ...

Shivraj Singh Chouhan to discuss IWT benefits with farmers at Pusa campus

The Agriculture Minister will meet farmers from North India to explain how putting the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance will secure water access and safeguard livelihoods

Govt aims for poverty-free villages through welfare schemes: Shivraj Singh

Asserting that the Centre is working to ensure 'poverty-free' villages, Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday appealed to the people to take full benefits of all social welfare schemes. Addressing an event in which 55,000 houses built across Assam under the PM Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G) were handed over to the beneficiaries, Chouhan underlined the need for empowering women. He said the BJP-led government at the Centre was working to serve people rather than "grabbing power". He said the government is focusing on ensuring 'poverty-free' villages, and the various welfare schemes will enable it. Lauding Assam's progress in PMAY-G, Chouhan said that 3.76 lakh more houses will be built in the state under the scheme in the current financial year. He also launched the 'Lakhimi Mistri' scheme, aimed at equipping women with masonry skills to enhance employment opportunities. Chouhan also virtually inaugurated 21 knowledge centres built across the state under

Wheat production intact; unlikely to be hit by weather challenges: Agri Min

India's wheat production remains intact at a record 115.3 million tonnes this year, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said, asserting that the second advance estimate is unlikely to be impacted by any weather incidents. During a weekly review of agricultural activities, Chouhan highlighted that the wheat crop has nearly completed its maturity stage across all growing states. "The heat wave or high temperatures will actually expedite the harvesting process. Thus, the second advance estimates are unlikely to be impacted..." an official statement quoted the minister as saying. The agriculture ministry's second estimate, released in March, projected a record wheat output of 115.3 million tonnes for 2024-25 -- approximately 2 per cent higher than the previous year's 113.3 million tonnes. Wheat harvesting has been fully completed in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, with partial harvesting remaining in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar as of May 2. The .

Ministries prepare crisis plans after PM's review meet amid border tensions

Ministries of agriculture, power, labour and consumer affairs prepare plans to support farmers, protect jobs, and ensure grid and supply stability amid border conflict

Centre to reach 15 mn farmers via seed campaign by June 12: Chouhan

The Centre will launch a national campaign from May 29 to June 12 to promote new seed varieties and farm technologies across 700 districts, reaching up to 15 million farmers

Indus Treaty a mistake, govt to draw water use plan: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

After suspending the Indus Water Treaty, the Centre will frame short-, mid- and long-term plans to utilise river waters for irrigation in border states, says Chouhan

Govt to use Indus waters for farmers after treaty freeze: Agri minister

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said the government will make "short, mid and long term" plans to utilise waters, given to Pakistan under the Indus Water Treaty, for providing irrigation facilities to farmers, especially of bordering states. He said keeping in abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty in 1960 is a "historic decision" in the interest of the country. The government suspended the decades-old treaty following the killing of 26 people, mostly tourists, in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. Calling this 1960 treaty with Pakistan a "historical mistake" by the then government, Chouhan said it led to maximum water being used by the neighbouring country. "I want to share one important fact with our farmers. There was a historical mistake, and that was the Indus Water Treaty in 1960," he said. The minister said it was unfortunate that 80 per cent water of Indian rivers, including Indus, Chenab and Jhelum, went to Pakistan due t

Govt to launch nationwide farm awareness drive from May 29: Shivraj Chouhan

With ensuing kharif sowing season, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday announced a pan-India 15-days campaign starting May 29, to create awareness among 1-1.5 crore farmers about modern technology and new seed varieties. The campaign named 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' is scheduled during the May 29-June 12 period and the target is to reach out to 1-1.5 crore farmers across 700 districts in the country. The Centre in association with states will form 2,000 teams comprising farm scientists, officials and progressive farmers, among others. Each team will have three meetings every day at district level. The aim is to reach out to 10-12 lakh farmers every day. Addressing a National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign here, Chouhan stressed on improving agriculture extension services to boost productivity and production of all major crops. He emphasized on making available new technologies and research work done in labs to farmers' fields within a fi

India urges global focus on small farmers at Brics agriculture meet

India on Friday pitched for placing small and marginal farmers at the centre of global agricultural strategies, saying they cannot face climate change, price volatility and resource scarcity challenges alone. Speaking at the 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brazil, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said global food security goals would remain unfulfilled unless small farmers are protected and empowered. "We cannot leave smallholders to fight these challenges alone. They need our policy support," Chouhan said, describing agriculture as not merely an economic activity but a source of "livelihood, food, and dignity" for millions. Chouhan presented cluster-based farming, farmer producer organisations, cooperative models and natural farming as effective approaches for empowering small farmers and improving their market access, the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement. The meeting underscored the need for fair agricultural trade, control of global price volatility

Shivraj Singh Chouhan visits farms in Brazil; praises mechanised farming techniques | Agriculture

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited tomato farm in Sao Paulo, Brazil and hailed the mechanised farming techniques.

India, Brazil can boost global food security: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that joint efforts of India and Brazil could play an important role in strengthening global food security. During a meeting with 27 members of Brazil's agribusiness community in Sao Paulo, Chouhan praised the widespread use of machinery in Brazilian agriculture, particularly in cotton and soybean harvesting, and expressed hope for cooperation in these areas, according to an official statement. The minister discussed possibilities for promoting agricultural trade between the two countries, exchanging improved production techniques, adopting advanced food processing methods and cooperating on biofuel production, technological innovation and supply chain integration. The President of the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce noted that while India-Brazil agricultural trade currently amounts to USD 2-3 billion, it has the potential to reach USD15-20 billion. Brazil mainly exports fertilisers, soybeans, food crops, sugar, meat and ...

Shivraj Chouhan urges Dallewal to end hunger strike, reaffirms May 4 talks

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday appealed to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal to end his hunger strike, saying that Union ministers will meet representatives of farmers' organisations for talks on May 4 as previously scheduled. In a post on X, Chouhan said, "The ongoing dialogue between the representatives of the Government of India and the representatives of farmers' organizations regarding their demands is continuing. Farmer leader Shri Jagjit Singh Dallewal has now returned from hospital and we wish him a speedy recovery. We also request him to end his hunger strike and we will meet with the representatives of the farmers' organizations for talks at 11 am on May 4 as per the already decided date." Chouhan's appeal comes days after Dallewal, the convener of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political), clarified that he has not ended his hunger strike, which has now continued for 139 days. Dallewal has been fasting to press for farmers' demands, including a

Modi govt taking several steps to increase farm income: Shivraj Chouhan

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said the Modi government is taking several steps to increase farm income and has insulated farmers from high fertiliser prices in the international markets. "Our vision is to increase farm income and we will leave no stone unturned to achieve that vision. Farmer welfare is Modi government's guarantee," Chouhan said during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha. He said the Modi government is giving Rs 6,000 per month to farmers under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. To a question by SP member Anand Bhadauria on whether the government will waive farm loans, Chouhan said "several steps are being taken by the Modi government to increase farm income, as well as to increase production, to reduce the cost of production and helping them to sell their produce. Farm loans are increasing, and under Modi (government), income of farmers is continuously increasing." Chouhan further said that fertiliser prices have been increasing in the ...

Centre hikes non-urea fertiliser subsidies with allocation of Rs 37K cr

Says FY25 subsidy now totals Rs 1.91 trn versus BE of Rs 1.68 trn