RAISEN (MADHYA PRADESH): In a major push toward sustainable agriculture and soil preservation, the Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, officially launched the nationwide ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ (Save the Fields Campaign). The month-long national movement was inaugurated from Ramasiya village in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh and is scheduled to run across the country from June 1 to June 30, 2026.
Delivering a core message of “Save the Soil, Save Farming, Save Farmers,” Minister Chouhan emphasized that protecting soil health is directly tied to thriving agriculture, empowered farmers, and national prosperity.
Curbing Chemical Overuse and Promoting Soil Health
A central objective of the campaign is addressing the long-term degradation of farmland caused by unsustainable agricultural practices:
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Judicious Fertilizer Application: Minister Chouhan appealed to the farming community to halt the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, urging them to apply nutrients based strictly on scientific testing.
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Preserving Microorganisms: He noted that excessive chemical application actively diminishes soil fertility and destroys beneficial soil microorganisms, which drives up cultivation costs while lowering overall crop productivity.
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Soil Health Cards: The Minister stressed that every farmer must possess a Soil Health Card to ensure fertilizer deployment aligns with the actual nutrient requirements of their land, thereby maintaining long-term fertility. He clarified that government fertilizer subsidies should not be treated as an incentive for over-application.
Grassroots Mobilization and Technical Outreach
The ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ is structured to operate as a coordinated, data-driven awareness campaign connecting scientific institutions directly with rural stakeholders:
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Village-Level Science Outreach: Throughout the month, agricultural scientists, experts from agricultural universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) officials, and state agriculture department teams will visit villages nationwide to educate farmers.
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Advanced Training and Modern Tech: Farmers will receive on-ground training in balanced nutrient management, natural farming, water conservation, and green manure usage. Special field demonstrations will also be organized for key regional crops—specifically soybean, paddy, and pulses—utilizing modern technologies like laser levellers and improved seed varieties.
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Anti-Counterfeit Drive: The campaign will additionally focus on protecting farmers by creating awareness against counterfeit fertilizers and pesticides, alongside guidance on seed treatment and local agro-climatic crop selection.
Holisitic Rural Development: Women and Youth
Beyond soil health, the Union Ministry is utilizing the campaign as a vehicle to drive broader socio-economic transformation within India’s villages:
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Women’s Self-Reliance: The initiative explicitly links agricultural transformation with women’s empowerment. Through Self-Help Groups (SHGs), eligible women will be provided with technical training, financial assistance, and opportunities to establish small enterprises to enhance household incomes.
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Youth Skill Development: For rural youth, the campaign aims to create expanded avenues for guidance, skill development, and employment preparation. Minister Chouhan noted that true rural development must look beyond physical infrastructure like roads and housing to actively generate localized self-reliance and employment.
Framing the campaign as a visionary directive aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on safeguarding resources for future generations, Chouhan called for the ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ to transition from a government initiative into a massive, public-led people’s movement.
