Page 4 - Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Looking to raise output of pulses 40% by 2030-31 crop year: Chouhan

The six-year Rs 11,440-crore pulses mission aims to raise output to 35 million tonnes and boost productivity through assured MSP procurement and acreage expansion

Tariffs are weapons, India won't yield to global pressure: Shivraj Chouhan

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said India will not compromise on its national interest amid a volatile geopolitical situation where trade and tariffs have become weapons, and asserted that the country must further strengthen food security without relying on global markets. Addressing the 120th Annual General Meeting of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chouhan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear that while India believes in being "global brother" and is concerned about the world, the country's interest remains the top priority. "Amid volatile geopolitical situation where nations are fighting with each other, where trade and tariffs are treated as weapons, where nations are ruling the world at their whims.... In such a situation, India has to choose its path. We will not come under pressure of anyone. Protecting our country's interest is our duty and it is necessary for global peace. A responsible country like India should rise," he said. T

Centre earmarks 65% MGNREGA funds for over-exploited water blocks

The Rural Development and Jal Shakti ministries will allocate 65% of MGNREGA funds to over-exploited water blocks and 40% to semi-critical zones under a new water security plan

Border farmers without land rights to get PM-KISAN benefit: Chouhan

Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced PM-KISAN benefits for border farmers without land rights and promised flood relief for J&K along with GST-linked cuts in farm equipment costs

Centre sets record 362.96 mt foodgrain output target for 2025-26

Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced a record foodgrain target of 362.96 mt for 2025-26, with fertiliser supply measures and state-wise crop roadmaps

Missions alone won't boost output of pulses and oilseeds, says Shivraj

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told the rabi conference that India needs policy recalibration to raise pulses and oilseeds output, not just new Missions

Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan urges people to buy 'swadeshi' products

Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday urged people to adopt 'Swadeshi', as he said India is going through a difficult phase, but is not afraid of the challenges. Speaking at the formal inauguration of the Saras Aajeevika Mela, the Rural Development Minister also said around 2.82 crore women who are self-help group members have become 'Lakhpati Didi', and the goal is now to have three crore women who have an annual income of over Rs 1 lakh. Speaking at the event, Chouhan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made an appeal to adopt 'swadeshi' products. "The Prime Minister has made an appeal, and it's very timely. Our country is facing many challenges today. But India is not afraid of the challenges, we are looking eye to eye," Chouhan said. "The Prime Minister has set the goal for developed India by 2047, and we will achieve this by building a self-reliant India," he said. "Buy Swadeshi, it will be a huge factor in creating a self-reliant India," he said. Cho

AAP slams Shivraj Singh Chouhan over Punjab floods, seeks relief package

Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora on Saturday slammed Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for blaming illegal mining in rivers for flooding and alleged that the BJP leaders visit flood-hit areas for "photo-ops" instead of announcing financial aid for the state. Accusing the BJP of discriminating against Punjab, the ruling AAP said that the Union Minister did not announce "even a penny" in flood assistance despite the state government seeking payment of its "pending" Rs 60,000 crore from the central government. Chouhan had visited flood-ravaged areas in Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Kapurthala on Thursday. The Union Agriculture Minister had on Friday said he would submit a detailed report on the Punjab flood situation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The minister attributed the flooding partly to weakened embankments along the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi and Ghaggar rivers, compromised by illegal mining activities. In a post on X, he said, "When Atal ji was the prime minister and Parkash Sing

Chouhan visits flood-affected areas in Punjab, assures full support

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday began his visit to flood-hit areas in Punjab's Amritsar district, where he interacted with farmers affected by the deluge. Earlier upon his arrival, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria submitted a detailed report on the flood situation to Chouhan at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar. Chouhan arrived at the Amritsar airport and is visiting some of the flood-hit areas in the state. The minister will visit villages in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Kapurthala districts and interact with affected farmers. Chouhan, who was accompanied by Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar and party senior leader Tarun Chugh, reached Ajnala in Amritsar district and interacted with farmers. During his interactions, the union minister took stock of the situation. A farmer there showed him the extensive damage caused to the crop. Chouhan even held the crop, which had been damaged after remaining submerged. Earlier, .

Countries pushed India on agri market, but nation stands firm now: Chouhan

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, without naming the United States, on Saturday said some countries had pressured India to open its agricultural market but the nation today stands tall and engages confidently on the global stage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said national interest is paramount, and farmers' interests will not be compromised, Chouhan asserted while speaking at a symposium in Vidisha, his Lok Sabha constituency, on advanced farming. "Some countries were pressuring us to fully open the agricultural market, but today we can proudly say India is in a position to speak to the world with its chin up (in an assertive manner)," the Union agriculture minister said. "There was a time when we were forced to consume low-quality PL-480 wheat from the United States. But today, our food reserves are abundant. India achieved record 3.7 per cent growth in agriculture this year, resulting in record production of wheat, rice and maize, which has filled the nation's food ...

Agri scientists to visit farms for better rabi crop in October: Chouhan

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday said agricultural scientists will visit farm fields between October 3 and 18 to ensure a good rabi (winter) crop this year while reiterating the government's commitment to protecting farmers' interests. Speaking during an interaction with farmers, who were special guests for Independence Day celebrations here, Chouhan emphasised that safeguarding the interests of farmers, dairy farmers, and fishermen remains the government's top priority, according to an official statement. The minister stressed that government initiatives should translate into tangible benefits for people rather than remain confined to files. "The government work should be visible in the lives of the people, not in files," he said. The dialogue session was also attended by Union Ministers of State for Agriculture Ramnath Thakur and Bhagirath Chaudhary, Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, Director General of ICAR ML Jat, and other senior officials.

States seek more urea; Centre says supply exceeds requirement this season

Next phase of 'Vikshit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' to start on October 3; Chouhan urges states to act against misuse of urea and prepare accurate fertiliser demand maps

Will explore more, no compromise on farmers' interests: Shivraj on tariffs

US imposed 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods last month and increased it to 50 per cent over import of Russian oil

Shivraj Chouhan to transfer ₹3,200 cr crop insurance to 3 million farmers

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will on Monday digitally transfer a crop insurance claim amount of Rs 3,200 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to 30 lakh farmer beneficiaries. The PMFBY claim amount will be transferred during an event organised for this purpose in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. Besides Chouhan, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary, and state agriculture minister Kirodi Lal Meena will attend the event. Of the total claim amount, Rs 1,156 crore will be transferred to farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Rs 1,121 crore to 7 lakh farmers in Rajasthan, Rs 150 crore to Chhattisgarh-based farmers, and Rs 773 crore to farmers in other states, according to an official statement. The Union agriculture minister stated that the Centre has implemented a new simplified claim settlement system in the interest of farmers, wherein claims can be paid proportionately based only on the central subsidy with

Shivraj Chouhan echoes PM's call, urges citizens to use indigenous products

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Saturday, during the disbursement of the 20th instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi in Varanasi, urged the nation to buy indigenous products

Farmers' welfare top priority under PM Modi's leadership: Shivraj Chouhan

Chouhan said that with the help of the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme, the government is ensuring that the assistance reaches directly into the accounts of the farmers

Govt will safeguard farmers' interests in trade talks with US: Chouhan

The government will protect the interest of farmers in trade negotiations with the US, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Friday. "We have said clearly the country's interest is top priority. Farmers' interest will be protected," Chouhan told reporters after inaugurating the Meghalaya Pineapple Festival. The agriculture and dairy sector will be protected. "We keep in mind the country's interest while taking any decisions," he noted. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on all goods coming from India starting August 1, plus an unspecified penalty for buying Russian crude oil and military equipment. New Delhi has never opened the dairy sector in any of its earlier signed free trade pacts. The agri sector is politically sensitive for India, as about 700 million rural livelihoods are dependent on it. Lowering duties would also pose a risk to national food security. On Thursday, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goy

Congress, Chidambaram speaking Pakistan's language: Shivraj Chouhan

Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday accused the Congress and its leader P Chidambaram of "speaking the same language" as used by Pakistan and claimed that the Opposition was "running away" from a discussion in Parliament on Operation Sindoor out of fear of being unmasked. Speaking to reporters inside the Parliament complex, he said when the government is ready to discuss the issue then why is the Opposition running away from it. The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm on Monday amid opposition protests on the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, delaying the start of the discussion on Operation Sindoor. A political row erupted on Monday over Chidambaram's reported remarks that the terrorists behind the Pahalgam could have been "homegrown". "It was their demand only that a discussion should be held on Operation Sindoor. And, when the government is ready for discussion, why is it running away from it? The entire Opposition is not letting a discussion on terror and terrorism

Over ₹44 crore released under MGNREGS so far: Centre tells Lok Sabha

The Centre has released Rs 44,323 crore to states and union territories under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) so far, Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. In a written reply, the minister gave the figures of disbursements of wages, material and admin components till July 17, 2025. According to the revelation, the amount disbursed is almost half of the total allocation of Rs 86,000 crore earmarked for the financial year 2025-26. In a written reply to a separate question, MoS Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan said the allocation included full pending wage liabilities and 50 per cent of Material Liabilities of the previous financial year. "Regarding budget allocation for Mahatma Gandhi NREGS it is submitted that, for the financial year 2024-25, budget allocation of Rs. 86,000 crore has been made, which was the highest ever allocation for the scheme at the Budget Estimate (BE) stage since inception. I

Govt aiming to take number of 'Lakhpati Didis' to 20 mn by Aug 15: Chouhan

Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said 1.5 crore women have already become Lakhpati Didis in India and his ministry is aiming to take the figure to 2 crore by August 15. 'Lakhpati Didi' refers to a woman member of a Self-Help Group (SHG) who earns an income of Rs 1 lakh or more per year. Chouhan visited the Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Directorate of Groundnut Research in Junagadh town of Gujarat, where he reviewed its activities and interacted with farmers and Lakhpati Didis of SHGs, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said in a release. In his address, Chouhan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a resolve to make every woman a Lakhpati Didi. "Why should any woman remain poor? This campaign is being run across India. Till now, 1.5 crore women have already become Lakhpati Didis and my department is constantly taking steps to make 2 crore women Lakhpati Didis by August 15," he said. In Junagadh, there are women ...