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India is set to launch a nationwide agricultural outreach campaign, the “Khet Bachao Abhiyan”, on June 1 from Ramsiya village in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district. The initiative aims to address growing concerns over soil degradation, climate-related risks, imbalanced fertiliser use, and declining farm sustainability.

The campaign has been announced by Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who described it as a national effort to protect agricultural land and strengthen long-term food security. Ahead of the launch, Chouhan held a virtual meeting with representatives of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), agricultural universities, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutions, and state agriculture departments.

Focus On Soil Health And Sustainable Farming

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the campaign will promote balanced fertiliser use, soil testing, Soil Health Cards, natural farming practices, water conservation, green manuring, and climate-resilient crop management. It will also raise awareness about counterfeit fertilisers, seeds, and pesticides.

Officials said field demonstrations and scientific evidence will be used to help farmers adopt recommended practices. District-level implementation plans are being prepared across states, with monitoring mechanisms expected to track progress through June 30.

Nationwide Participation Planned

The campaign seeks participation from state governments, agricultural scientists, universities, farmer organisations, and elected representatives. Chouhan said he has spoken with chief ministers across the country and appealed to public representatives to support the initiative.

The minister also announced plans to visit villages in different states during the campaign and interact directly with farmers. Agricultural institutions have been asked to coordinate outreach activities at the grassroots level.