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Centre launches ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ to promote sustainable farming
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Saturday, 24 October, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan has launched the nationwide ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ from Taraori in Haryana’s Karnal district, calling for balanced fertiliser use, reduced dependence on chemical pesticides and wider adoption of natural farming to protect soil health and food quality.
Addressing farmers, agricultural scientists and officials connected virtually through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and agricultural institutions across the country, Chouhan warned that excessive and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides could degrade agricultural land and pose risks to human health. He announced a nationwide village-level awareness campaign from October 22 to November 30, 2026, urging agricultural universities, scientists and government officials to engage directly with farmers.
Chouhan said Haryana’s farmers had demonstrated a strong commitment to agricultural innovation and were contributing to the adoption of modern and natural farming practices in other states. He emphasised that protecting soil health was essential to sustaining agricultural productivity and ensuring access to safe and nutritious food. He also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concern over the deteriorating condition of agricultural land.
The minister stressed that affordable fertilisers should not encourage excessive application. He said the central government was providing fertiliser subsidies exceeding Rs 1.5 lakh crore to protect farmers from rising international prices, enabling them to purchase a bag of urea for Rs 266 and a bag of diammonium phosphate (DAP) for Rs 1,350.
However, he cautioned that applying more fertiliser than required would not necessarily increase crop yields and could damage soil health. He also referred to the potential of green ammonia in strengthening India's self-reliance in fertiliser production.
Outlining measures to improve soil fertility, Chouhan urged farmers to use Soil Health Cards to determine nutrient deficiencies and apply fertilisers in balanced quantities. He encouraged crop rotation, including the cultivation of pulses such as chickpea, lentil and pigeon pea, which help improve soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation.
He also called on farmers to gradually adopt natural farming, suggesting that they could begin on at least half an acre rather than converting their entire holdings immediately. The preparation and use of traditional inputs such as Beejamrit and Ghanjeevamrit, made using cow dung, cow urine and soil, could help reduce cultivation costs and improve soil health while providing chemical-free produce for household consumption, he said.
Addressing crop residue management, Chouhan commended farmers in Taraori for their efforts to maintain soil organic carbon and manage agricultural waste. He warned that stubble burning causes air pollution and destroys beneficial soil microorganisms, earthworms and insects that contribute to natural nutrient cycling and soil fertility. He urged farmers to avoid burning crop residue and adopt practices that preserve the biological health of their fields.
As part of the campaign, vice-chancellors of agricultural universities, the Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), scientists and government officials have been urged to visit villages and conduct farmer awareness programmes during the October 22–November 30 period. The initiative will focus on balanced nutrient management, crop diversification, natural farming and the long-term protection of agricultural land.
During the event, farmers took a collective pledge to use agricultural chemicals judiciously, diversify cropping patterns, avoid crop residue burning and progressively adopt natural farming practices.
In a separate announcement, Chouhan, in his capacity as Union Rural Development Minister, handed over an approval letter to Haryana Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Shyam Singh Rana for financial assistance of Rs 1,343.06 crore to construct 28,422 permanent houses for eligible rural families under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Gramin.
The programme was attended by ICAR Director General and Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) Dr Mangi Lal Jat, Haryana Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) Vijendra Kumar, agricultural scientists, officials and farmers. A booklet on the ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ was also released at the event.
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