Pic Credit – Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
On the 6th day of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, visited Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Pune’s Narayangaon Taluka. During the visit, the Minister interacted with local growers & agricultural scientists, addressing concerns and reinforcing the government’s commitment to strengthening India’s agricultural backbone.
Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan: New Initiatives Unveiled to Support Farmers and Boost Market Access
The Union Minister also visited the Narayangaon Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), the local tomato market, surrounding farm fields and a cold storage facility. He met with farmers engaged in tomato and other crop cultivation, listening to their firsthand experiences and challenges.
Farmers voiced several key concerns including the Minimum Support Price (MSP), crop losses due to unseasonal rains, the impact of climate change, timely access to farm equipment and seeds, the need for more cold storage infrastructure and the availability of agro-processing centers.
He urged agricultural scientists to move beyond laboratories and engage directly with farmers in the field. With over 16,000 agricultural scientists across the country, Chouhan stressed the need for increased collaboration between researchers & cultivators to drive tangible advancements in farming practices.
The Minister announced that the government is planning to introduce stringent legislation to curb the production and distribution of counterfeit agri-inputs adding that those involved in producing fake fertilizers and pesticides will face strict penalties under the proposed law.
A major highlight of the visit was the announcement regarding the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) crops. Minister Chouhan explained that under this scheme, if farmers find better prices for their produce in other states, the Central Government will cover the cost of transporting their crops, ensuring they receive fair market value. The MIS, which is activated upon the request of State or Union Territory governments, aims to secure remunerative prices for farmers while also stabilizing market prices for consumers.
The Agriculture Minister’s visit underlined the government’s proactive approach in directly engaging with the farming community, understanding their ground-level issues and ensuring policy interventions are shaped by real needs and challenges.
He also felicitated agriculture entrepreneurs who are leading innovative efforts in the sector. In his address, the Union Minister emphasized that India’s progress toward becoming a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) cannot be achieved without growth in the agriculture sector and the economic empowerment of farmers.
What is Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan?
In a landmark initiative to transform agriculture sector, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, launched the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan on 29th May 2025 in Puri, Odisha. The nationwide campaign will continue till 12th June 2025, engaging farmers all across India in a mission to build a resilient, inclusive & future-ready farming sector.