Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has unveiled significant investment plans aimed at transforming the agricultural sector. The government is set to allocate approximately $2.15 billion (Rs. 18,000 crore) to develop 100 export clusters for agriculture and another $810.7 million (Rs. 6,800 crore) to boost self-sufficiency in pulse production.
Chouhan acknowledged the challenges facing agriculture but is committed to finding solutions through open dialogue with farmers and their associations. He emphasized that political parties should not view farmers solely as a vote bank but rather engage in meaningful discussions to address their issues.
The minister outlined an ambitious vision for a climate-resilient agricultural system. This includes plans to create 50,000 climate-friendly villages and develop 1,500 new seed varieties. A digital identity for farmers is also on the agenda. Chouhan admitted that the government’s procurement of crops at minimum support price (MSP) is selective and only done when necessary.
Additionally, the government is focusing on a ‘One Health’ approach that integrates human, animal, plant, and environmental health. Investments are being made in modern post-harvest infrastructure, with $166,905.10 (Rs. 1.40 crore) allocated for this purpose. Plans include integrating 1,500 more mandis into the electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NaM) program, reviving 2,500 traditional seed varieties across 200 districts within the next two years, and developing model pulses and oilseeds villages. Over the next five years, 12 million hectares will be covered under micro-irrigation to support these initiatives.
