- The Union Government is set to roll out the month-long “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” across the country from June 1 to June 30, aiming to transform it into a nationwide mass movement for sustainable farming and farmer empowerment.
- The focus of the campaign will be on balanced and judicious use of fertilisers, timely advice to farmers in the view of weather-related challenges, active participation at the panchayat level and delivering the benefits of the schemes directly to the villages.
- Minimising the reckless use of chemical fertilisers would be the prime objective of the campaign.
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said that Krishi Vigyan Kendra KVKs have been assigned the role of key coordinators for all participating institutions in the campaign.
- It added that over one thousand six hundred teams have been formed, and a total of five hundred teams have been constituted for the hundred districts of excessive fertiliser use.
- The campaign will prioritize balanced and judicious use of fertilisers, soil health management, and cost-effective farming. Farmers will receive direct advice tailored to local weather conditions, soil quality, and market scenarios.
- Shri Chouhan highlighted the importance of reducing reckless fertiliser use, promoting organic inputs, green manures, and bio-products, and demonstrating Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) techniques in villages.
- The campaign will also integrate scheme benefits, such as Kisan Credit Cards, PM-KISAN, Pulses-Oilseeds Mission, Cotton Mission, Oil Palm cultivation, water conservation, and region-specific agricultural advisories.
- Farmers will be given information on soil testing, Soil Health Cards, natural farming, balanced use of fertilisers and water conservation techniques.
- They will also be taught about identifying fake fertilisers, seeds and pesticides.
- During the campaign, farmers will also get help in accessing government schemes. These include the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Crop Insurance Scheme, Kisan Credit Card and farm mechanisation programmes.