Union Agriculture Minister Reviews Key Schemes, Emphasizes Accelerated Farmer Welfare Initiatives

New Delhi: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, conducted a virtual review meeting today with Agriculture Ministers from various states and union territories. The meeting, held in New Delhi, was attended by senior officials, including Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

During the meeting, Chouhan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing agricultural development and farmer welfare with renewed vigor in 2025. Drawing inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge to triple his efforts in the third term, Chouhan urged officials and ministers to work with full potential.

Chouhan lauded the projected growth rate of 3.5% to 4% in the agriculture and allied sectors for the year, attributing this achievement to the relentless efforts of farmers and state governments. He highlighted the government’s six-point strategy for agricultural development, focusing on increasing production, reducing costs, and leveraging technology.

The Minister commended initiatives such as micro-irrigation, mechanization, and the use of improved seed varieties developed by ICAR, emphasizing their role in enhancing productivity and profitability for farmers.

Key Achievements and Announcements

1. PM Kisan Samman Nidhi: Over ₹3.46 lakh crore has been disbursed to 11 crore farmers across 18 installments, with 25 lakh new beneficiaries added in the first 100 days of the new term.
2. PM Crop Insurance Scheme: The world’s largest crop insurance initiative has insured 14.28 crore farmers and covered 602 lakh hectares, with ₹17,000 crore disbursed in claims. A satellite-based assessment system has been introduced to ensure accurate and timely claim settlements.
3. Fertilizer Subsidy: A provision of ₹1.95 lakh crore was made last year, with recent approvals for an increase in subsidies, including ₹3,800 crore for DAP fertilizers.

The Minister detailed record procurement achievements under Minimum Support Price (MSP) programs:

• 33.38 crore metric tonnes of wheat purchased from 2014-15 to 2024-25, benefiting 2.83 crore farmers with MSP payments of ₹6.04 lakh crore.
• Significant procurement of coarse grains, pulses, and oilseeds under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan, with substantial payouts to farmers.

Chouhan encouraged participants to offer suggestions for the upcoming budget, emphasizing the importance of addressing farmers’ challenges. He highlighted SBI’s report showing rural poverty rates falling below 5% in FY2024, a significant drop from 7.2% in FY2023, reflecting the success of government interventions.

To address fluctuations in prices of crops like tomatoes, onions, and potatoes, the government will bear transportation and storage costs during peak harvest periods. Efforts are also underway to promote natural farming, reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers to mitigate environmental impacts.

The Minister reiterated the importance of collective efforts between the Center and states to ensure the continued progress of the agriculture sector. “Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, and serving farmers is akin to worship,” Chouhan remarked, urging states to actively implement initiatives such as the Price Deficit Payment Scheme and National Edible Oil Mission.