CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Bhopal: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in Delhi during an interaction with the media at the National Kharif Agriculture Conference that the country is fully prepared for Kharif 2026.
He said extensive deliberations were held with state agriculture ministers, senior officials, scientists, agricultural universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, progressive farmers and the entire agriculture team of the Centre and the states. During these discussions, firm direction was decided on important issues such as seeds, fertilisers, crop insurance, agricultural credit, natural farming and state-wise agricultural roadmaps.
Addressing a press conference at the National Kharif Agriculture Conference at Subramaniam Hall in Pusa, Delhi, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the Centre and the states are working together to ensure that the Kharif season is not a season of challenges from any perspective, but one of preparedness, coordination and farmer-centric policy. He said the first condition for the success of any crop is quality seed, and this time seed availability for Kharif 2026 in the country is fully reassuring.
He informed that the country requires about 173 lakh quintals of seed for the Kharif season, while 192 lakh quintals are available. That means around 11 percent more seed than required has been made available. Seed allocation according to the needs of the states has also been completed, and special emphasis has been laid on ensuring that the states lift the seed on time and deliver it to farmers before Kharif sowing.
He said that, keeping in mind weather uncertainties, the Centre has also prepared a national seed reserve of 1.74 lakh quintals. Advance arrangements have been made so that farmers do not face any difficulty in getting seed if there is a delay in rainfall, a break in rains, or a need for re-sowing.
Chouhan said the Farmer ID campaign has been accelerated so that benefits of schemes can be delivered to farmers in a simple and targeted manner. So far, more than 9 crore 76 lakh Farmer IDs have been created. He said this will reduce the need for farmers to repeatedly submit different documents and will help ensure more transparent distribution of fertiliser, assistance and other facilities to the correct beneficiaries.
On the issue of agricultural credit, Union Minister Shivraj Singh said the average size of farm credit in the country is around Rs 1.32 lakh, but there is a wide variation across states and regions. In eastern India, this average is quite low. He said meetings will be held with banks in states where the flow of agricultural credit is low so that adequate credit can be made available and farmers can invest on time.
He also underlined that a large number of farmers do not own the land they cultivate, but farm on leased land. Serious discussions were held with the states on ensuring benefits of schemes for such tenant farmers as well. He said models from some states will be studied and efforts will be made to develop a suitable arrangement at the national level.
Speaking on the crop insurance scheme, Chouhan said the scheme has a large scope, but some gaps need to be addressed. He said a team will be constituted to make crop cutting experiments and remote sensing-based assessment more accurate and reliable. At the same time, delays by states in premium payments and delays by insurance companies in settlement of claims have been taken seriously. He made it clear that after completion of the required formalities, a provision of 12 percent interest will apply in case of delay in payment so that farmers receive benefits on time.
Shivraj Singh also told the states that funds released by the Centre under various agriculture schemes should be spent on time so that benefits reach farmers at the right time. Describing substandard and fake pesticides as a major problem, he said the states will have to increase sampling, strengthen laboratories and focus on the expansion of NABL-certified labs. Consensus was also reached on running a wide campaign against fake agricultural inputs.
Calling delays in procurement under PM-AASHA a major issue, Chouhan said there is now agreement to complete procurement within a fixed timeline. Along with this, emphasis was laid on further strengthening Krishi Vigyan Kendras, accelerating the FPO movement and working region-wise on suitable varieties for different crops.
He said there is a need to step up work on developing better short-duration varieties in crops such as arhar and on selection of varieties according to different agro-climatic conditions. In this sequence, a separate agricultural roadmap will be prepared for every state. This roadmap will include factors such as soil, climate, nutrient status, suitable crops, varieties and fertiliser use so that agricultural planning becomes more scientific and region-specific.
There was also extensive discussion in the conference on natural farming and balanced use of fertilisers. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh said 20 lakh farmers have registered for natural farming covering 8 lakh hectares. Besides this, many farmers are already following natural methods traditionally. He also described integrated farming as important for small and marginal farmers and said it can become a practical path to increasing income.
Shivraj Singh said that to reach farmers directly, the Centre and state governments will run a Khet Bachao Abhiyan from June 1 to June 30. Under this campaign, teams will go village to village and inform farmers about balanced fertiliser use, Soil Health Card recommendations, natural farming, better crop management and other schemes. Wherever possible, efforts will also be made to provide practical access to Kisan Credit Cards, mechanisation equipment, Soil Health Cards and other facilities.
On the biggest change in the agriculture sector during the 12 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure, Chouhan said the period has seen record production in farming and the country has moved ahead with new thinking, new technology, better coordination and a farmer-centric approach.
Overall, the Kharif Agriculture Conference conveyed the message that the Centre and the states are now taking agriculture forward not merely as a seasonal activity, but as a national mission of scientific planning, time-bound implementation and farmer empowerment. From seed to insurance, credit to quality control, natural farming to state-wise roadmaps, the government expressed confidence that extensive preparations have been made for Kharif 2026.
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