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Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed a national-level seminar on ‘Prosperity through Cooperatives’ in Mumbai on June 20, 2025. The event was organized in the context of the United Nations declaring 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives and aimed to highlight the critical role of cooperatives in India’s agricultural development.

Strengthening Smallholder Farmers and Promoting Integrated Farming

In his keynote address, Chouhan said cooperatives are deeply rooted in India’s traditions and continue to play a vital role in the country's socio-economic fabric. He stressed that the agriculture sector remains central to India's economy, with 46% of the population dependent on it and contributing 18% to the nation’s GDP.

The Minister outlined key goals for the sector: increasing per-hectare productivity, reducing production costs, ensuring fair prices for farmers, and promoting sustainable practices. Emphasizing smallholder farmers, he stated that integrated farming models are being developed to support those with limited land holdings.

He also detailed the objectives of Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, a nationwide campaign linking scientific research directly to farmers. As part of this effort, 2,170 teams of scientists visited farms, shared innovations, and gathered feedback on-ground. The campaign revealed critical issues such as the use of substandard seeds and pesticides—prompting the government to consider stricter regulations.

Market Reforms and Support for Crop Transportation

Chouhan introduced a new Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for Tomato, Onion, and Potato (TOP) crops. Under this scheme, if farmers transport their produce to states offering better prices, the Central Government will cover the operational transport costs. The initiative is intended to stabilize prices for consumers while ensuring farmers receive remunerative returns.

He also highlighted record purchases of pulses, soybean, and oilseeds and confirmed that registered farmers producing toor, masoor, and urad will benefit from procurement support. Efforts are underway to expand storage infrastructure and increase domestic oilseed and soybean production.

Upcoming Agriculture Strategy Meetings

The Minister announced a series of key agricultural consultations scheduled in June 2025:

• June 24 – National virtual conference with ICAR scientists

• June 26 – Meeting on soybean production in Indore

• June 27 – Cotton production discussion in Gujarat

• TBD – Special meeting on sugarcane cultivation in Uttar Pradesh

These meetings are designed to develop tailored solutions for region-specific agricultural challenges and strengthen implementation.