CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan recently launched PRAGATI, a nationwide initiative to build 20,000 agri-entrepreneurs and directly benefit 20 lakh smallholder farmers through climate-resilient, regenerative agriculture.
The programme is backed by a coalition of institutions including the PepsiCo Foundation, State Bank of India Foundation, Gates Foundation, IDH, Heifer International, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Global Agri Entrepreneurship Academy, Sustainable Agriculture Foundation's International Association (SAFIA), Agri Entrepreneur Growth Foundation (AEGF), and Transform Rural India Foundation (TRIF).
Building on an existing network of 26,000-plus agri-entrepreneurs that already supports 2.6 million farmers, PRAGATI aims to add 20,000 more entrepreneurs and reach over 2 million additional smallholders across Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. The initiative targets a 30% rise in farmer incomes and a 15-20% yield boost in paddy, maize and potato, with regenerative practices adopted by at least a fifth of participating farmers. Entrepreneurs will run 20,000 village-level kiosks offering agronomy advisory, soil health services, mechanization, credit linkages and market access, alongside a push for financial and digital inclusion.
Speaking at the launch, Chouhan said "the vision of Viksit Bharat cannot be achieved without a developed agricultural sector and prosperous villages," adding that the government's focus extends beyond output to cutting cultivation costs, raising incomes, and promoting value addition and agri-entrepreneurship. He cited horticulture, livestock, fisheries and beekeeping, along with drones and digital advisory tools, as key levers for the sector's future, stressing that traditional farming alone will not be enough for small and marginal farmers.
Industry and philanthropic partners echoed that sense of urgency. Monica Bauer, Senior Vice President, Global Social Impact at PepsiCo and President of the PepsiCo Foundation, said farmers are "at the heart" of the company's business and that supporting their livelihoods is "essential to building a more resilient food system." Jagrut Kotecha, CEO of PepsiCo India and South Asia, called PRAGATI "a much needed intervention" bringing together partners with shared intent, reflecting the company's "Partnership of Progress" philosophy.
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