Centre launches ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ from June 1 to promote sustainable farming

New Delhi: The Centre will launch a nationwide month-long "Khet Bachao Abhiyan" from June 1 to June 30, aiming to promote balanced fertiliser use, improve soil health and provide farmers with timely advisory services based on local weather and agricultural conditions.

The campaign was reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi on Friday, 29th May 20226. Officials discussed plans to take the initiative to villages across the country through coordinated efforts involving Panchayats, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), ICAR institutions and state governments.

According to the Agriculture Ministry, the campaign will focus on reducing excessive use of chemical fertilisers and encouraging farmers to adopt balanced nutrient management practices based on soil testing. Farmers will also be encouraged to increase the use of organic manure, green manure and bio-fertilisers.

Live demonstrations on Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) are expected to be conducted during the campaign to showcase sustainable farming practices.

Weather-Based Advisory for Farmers

A key component of the initiative will be providing location-specific agricultural advisories to farmers. The campaign will offer guidance on crop selection, diversification strategies, water management and farming practices suited to changing weather conditions.

Officials said the objective is to provide practical farm-level solutions rather than limiting the campaign to awareness activities.

Over 1,600 Teams to Participate

To support implementation, more than 1,600 teams have been formed across the country. Of these, 500 teams will work in 100 districts identified for excessive fertiliser consumption. These teams will include scientists from KVKs, ICAR institutes and agriculture department officials.

Additionally, over 1,150 multidisciplinary teams from ICAR institutions and KVKs will conduct field-level outreach activities simultaneously.

Benefits of Government Schemes to Reach Villages

The campaign will also serve as a platform to connect farmers with various government schemes and agricultural support programmes. Efforts will be made to link eligible farmers with Kisan Credit Cards (KCC), PM-KISAN benefits and initiatives related to pulses, oilseeds, oil palm cultivation and cotton production.

Distribution of agricultural machinery and awareness on water conservation and soil health management will also form part of the outreach activities.

Push for Wider Public Participation

The Agriculture Ministry plans to involve elected representatives at different levels, including Chief Ministers, ministers, Members of Parliament and MLAs, to expand the campaign's reach and encourage public participation.

Officials believe the initiative can help farmers reduce input costs, improve soil fertility and adopt more sustainable agricultural practices while strengthening agricultural extension services at the village level.