Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan participated in the convention of farmers, Krishi Samvaad, organized under the 'Vikasit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' at Nagpur in Maharashtra on Sunday.
On the occasion, Minister Chauhan and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis felicitated progressive farmers from the Nagpur division who have established top-class achievements in agriculture and wished them the best for future success.
The event also witnessed Maharashtra's Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, Ministers Ashish Jaiswal and Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General Dr. M.L. Jat, and other dignitaries.
Speaking to the people present, Union Minister Chauhan asserted, "Today we are launching 'One Nation, One Agriculture and One Team' from Maharashtra. Today, the Central Government, State Government, Chief Minister, Agriculture Minister, MPs, MLAs, top scientists and whole staff of Agriculture Department are here. The Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry, State Agriculture Ministry, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Krishi Vigyan Kendra and all agricultural institutes must be a team."
He stressed that with coordinated effort from institutions, well-defined goal-setting, and roadmaps, phenomenal improvement in agriculture is possible.
Shivraj Singh Chauhan complimented Maharashtra as "the holy land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," appreciating its progressive and hard-working farmers who are very capable.
Praising Chief Minister Fadnavis, the Union Minister appreciated his tireless efforts to redefine the agricultural economy and enhance farmers' lives. "With the Prime Minister's leadership, our farmers should be self-sustaining, their incomes should grow, and for that, we all will work together like a team," Chauhan further said.
In a key revelation, Chauhan announced that a national-level laboratory would be opened in Pune under the Clean Plant Program. "This lab will be established in Pune to work on research on the original species of plants," he mentioned in his interaction with Vidarbha farmers during the Krishi Samvaad programme organised by IFFCO at Kavivarya Suresh Bhat Auditorium in Nagpur.
Pointing towards the need to increase agricultural production, Chauhan mentioned, "The Clean Plant Programme is being implemented to provide pure and disease-free nurseries. Farmers must realize the requirement of good quality seeds, soil testing and minimizing production expenses to have more production."
He also mentioned that ICAR has 113 institutes operating across the country, of which 11 belong to Maharashtra. In an effort to chart Maharashtra's agricultural development in the future, a meeting of all the heads of ICAR institutes will be held at the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS and LUP) in Nagpur. The government is committed to closing the research lab to farmers' field gap. With 16,000 agricultural scientists employed by ICAR, such teams of scientists and agricultural extension officers shall go to villages to inform farmers about new varieties of seeds and novel modes of farming.
Chauhan also declared a 15-day outreach program from May 29 through June 12, in which agricultural specialists shall advise farmers on sustainable agriculture and ready them for the Kharif season of cultivation.
Acknowledging Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, Chauhan said, “Our Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi is dedicated to taking the country forward. Modiji’s goal is to build a glorious, powerful, prosperous, rich and developed India.”
Along with Chief Minister Fadnavis, Chauhan also launched the National Soil Spectral Library, containing information on the pH, density, and elemental content of soils, collected using hyperspectral sensor technology by NBSS and LUP. This feat made Maharashtra the first state to have a detailed soil map in India.
Moreover, Chauhan introduced an AI-based Smart Trap technology to fight against the pink bollworm pest on cotton plantations. With this innovation, farmers will receive timely information about pest attacks in their fields.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis provided insights into the Wainganga-Nalganga River Linking Project, which is aimed at enhancing irrigation facilities in Vidarbha. He assured the state government's full support for the inclusive agricultural policies charted by Shivraj Singh Chauhan.
Speaking on local issues, Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate pointed out the lack of manpower for harvesting cotton. He reported that trials are being conducted on battery-operated small tractors and encouraging findings will be presented to the Agriculture Ministry for consideration.
