Under the directions of Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who during a recent meeting through video conferencing emphasized that the “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” should not remain merely an awareness programme but evolve into a comprehensive national campaign connecting farms, farmers and villages, Director Agriculture Jammu, Anil Gupta today chaired a high-level meeting to review and finalize preparations for the month-long campaign to be conducted across Jammu Division from June 1 to June 30.
During the meeting, Anil Gupta issued detailed directions to officers for ensuring the effective and result-oriented implementation of the campaign, with special focus on saving farms, reducing cultivation costs and providing timely, need-based technical guidance to farmers at the grassroots level.
Addressing the meeting, Director Agriculture emphasized that minimizing the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers would be one of the prime objectives of the campaign. He said that farmers would be sensitized about the balanced use of fertilizers and other agricultural inputs based on soil testing. Special efforts will be made for the distribution of Soil Health Cards and motivating farmers to adopt green manures, organic inputs and bio-products to improve soil health and farm sustainability.
Anil Gupta informed that multidisciplinary teams comprising officials from Agriculture Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and the Agriculture Department have been constituted for the campaign. These teams will undertake Panchayat-level visits across Jammu Division and directly interact with farmers to create awareness and provide field-specific advisories.
The Director urged all Chief Agriculture Officers (CAOs) to ensure the successful implementation of the campaign in their respective districts. He said that efforts would also be made to involve the participation of Ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assembly and other public representatives so that the campaign transcends the boundaries of an administrative programme and emerges as a robust model of public participation.
He further informed that during the campaign, farmers will be made aware of the benefits of Natural Farming and sustainable agricultural practices. Simultaneously, enforcement drives will be intensified to ensure the quality of pesticides and other agricultural inputs available in the market.
Director Agriculture stated that saturation drives under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and PM-KISAN schemes will also be undertaken to ensure that all eligible farmers are covered and receive the benefits of these flagship programmes. Awareness programmes on the Mission on Aatmanirbharta in Pulses and the National Mission on Edible Oils will also be organized and farmers will be encouraged to actively participate in these initiatives.
The campaign will also provide farmers with constructive suggestions regarding suitable crop options, crop diversification and climate-resilient farming practices, particularly in areas facing water scarcity or other agricultural risks. The objective is to help farmers make informed decisions that enhance productivity, profitability and sustainability.