Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday told the Lok Sabha that the government is accelerating structural reforms in agriculture with a sharp focus on irrigation expansion, quality farm inputs, digital transformation and sustainable farming practices to strengthen farmer incomes and rural prosperity.
Replying to a detailed discussion on the functioning of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan presented an extensive account of policy interventions and progress, asserting that the government led by Narendra Modi is committed not merely to governance but to long term transformation of the agricultural ecosystem.
Addressing concerns raised by members, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that earlier governments had left a large number of irrigation projects incomplete. Out of 140 major projects, 99 had remained stalled for years. These have now been brought under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana and are being fast tracked, with the aim of expanding irrigation coverage to nearly 2.7 million hectares of additional farmland.
He also highlighted renewed momentum in river linking initiatives, stating that the Ken Betwa River Linking Project connecting Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh is progressing steadily and is expected to provide a long term solution to recurring floods and drought conditions in the region. The project, originally envisioned during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is now being implemented with urgency.
Focusing on the issue of farm inputs, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the government is preparing to introduce new legislation on seeds and pesticides to curb the circulation of substandard products. He underscored that ensuring the availability of high quality seeds, reliable fertilisers and safe pesticides is critical to improving farm productivity.
He informed the House that strict scientific validation norms have already been enforced for bio stimulants. Out of nearly 8000 products available in the market, only about 500 have cleared rigorous testing conducted by institutions under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and agricultural universities, while the remaining have been rejected. This, he said, reflects the government’s intent to act firmly against what he described as exploitation of farmers through poor quality inputs.
Highlighting the rapid digital transformation underway in agriculture, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that nearly nine crore farmer IDs have been created under the Digital Agriculture Mission. These digital identities integrate land records, crop data and transaction history, enabling faster access to institutional credit, targeted scheme benefits and improved service delivery.
He explained that once fully operational, the system will significantly reduce delays in loan approvals and eliminate repetitive documentation requirements. Digital crop surveys and agri stack data will further ensure transparency and precision in the implementation of schemes such as income support and procurement operations.
The Minister also spoke about the development of an artificial intelligence based platform named Bharat Vistaar, designed to provide real time advisory services to farmers. Through this platform, farmers will be able to upload crop images or seek guidance via helplines and receive immediate responses in their local language regarding crop diseases, pesticide use and suitable cropping patterns. The initiative is expected to bridge the gap between scientific expertise and field level decision making.
Emphasising sustainability, Shivraj Singh Chouhan reiterated the government’s commitment to natural farming as a means to restore soil health and reduce input costs. He noted that excessive use of chemical fertilisers has adversely affected soil quality and long term productivity. Under the Natural Farming Mission, the government has set targets to reach one crore farmers, provide training to 18 lakh farmers and expand natural farming practices to 75 lakh hectares of land.
He added that scientific assessments indicate that natural farming, when implemented properly, can sustain or enhance yields while lowering cultivation costs, thereby offering a viable pathway for sustainable agriculture.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan also highlighted efforts to develop state specific agricultural roadmaps in collaboration with state governments. These plans are being tailored to local agro climatic conditions and aim to identify suitable crops, develop district level value chains and integrate scientific inputs from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research to enhance productivity and diversification.
Concluding his address, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the government’s approach is centred on improving farmer incomes, ensuring equitable development and building a self reliant agricultural economy. He emphasised that strengthening the agriculture sector remains central to the broader vision of a developed India.
