As part of the nationwide Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini launched the state-level campaign from the holy land of Kurukshetra on Thursday. The objective of the campaign is to improve the agricultural sector by connecting farmers with new technologies, schemes, and innovations. It aims to educate farmers on scientific techniques for Kharif crops, highlight the importance of soil health cards, and provide access to government schemes and policies. Through direct interaction with farmers, feedback will be gathered to guide future agricultural research. This campaign, running across the state until June 12, is a testament to the government’s commitment to empowering farmers.
Addressing farmers from across the state at a joint event organized by Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, and Animal Husbandry along with ICAR at Kurukshetra University campus, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that India has achieved self-reliance in food grain production due to the hard work and dedication of its farmers.
He emphasized that this campaign will turn every farmer into a policy participant and an innovation partner. This is not just a program, but a public movement that will be a major step toward empowering farmers with knowledge, innovation, and technology. It is a triveni, where agricultural scientists, officers from agriculture and allied departments, and farmers will engage in direct dialogue, he said.
A Prosperous India is Only Possible if Our Farmers are Happy and Self-Reliant
The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi considers farmers the backbone of his vision for a Viksit Bharat. A developed, strong, and prosperous India is only possible when our farmers are self-reliant, he said.
He informed that under this mega campaign, more than 2,000 teams of agricultural scientists and officers have been formed across the country. These teams will visit villages and directly interact with around 1.5 crore farmers – making it the largest outreach programme in the history of Indian agriculture. During the campaign, farmers will receive advice based on local climate, soil, and crop conditions.
Campaign to Drive Farmers Towards Smart Agriculture Alongside Traditional Methods
The Chief Minister said that Haryana is an agriculture-dominated state, but faces challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, declining soil fertility, and changing market demands. The Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan will empower farmers to address these issues. It will act as a bridge from lab to land, bringing agricultural research directly to the farmers’ fields. Scientists, officers, and progressive farmers will work together to cover 1,380 villages and 109 blocks across the state.
He added that digital tools have revolutionized farming. During the campaign, information about digital technologies will also be shared to help farmers transition towards smart agriculture while retaining traditional methods.
Haryana Government Continuously Launching Welfare Schemes for Farmers
The Chief Minister said the Haryana government is consistently launching farmer-friendly welfare schemes. The state has given a bonus of Rs. 2,000 per acre for Kharif crops, amounting to Rs. 1,345 crore, a first in Haryana’s history. The long-standing colonial-era system of abiyana has been abolished, and pending dues worth Rs. 133 crore have been waived.
He said the compensation policy for high-tension electricity lines passing through farmland. Farmers are now entitled to 200 percent of the market rate for tower area land and 30 percent for land under power lines. Additionally, the government has granted ownership rights to tenant farmers.
The Chief Minister called on farmers to switch from water-intensive crops to alternatives and adopt natural farming practices, which are essential for today’s environmental needs. He echoed Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi’s call to conserve every drop of water and promote micro-irrigation.
He urged farmers to turn this campaign into a people’s movement and take decisive steps toward making India a developed nation once again.
Centre Launches Schemes to Increase Crop Production – Shyam Singh Rana
Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana said that the 15-day campaign aims to boost crop production by providing farmers with land-related information, benefits of government schemes, and a platform for voicing their concerns. Scientists will interact directly with farmers to understand and respond to their needs. Recently, 15 lakh farmers in the state received their soil test reports via mobile, giving them valuable insights into their farm health.
He highlighted the success of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, which provides Rs. 6,000 per year directly into farmers’ accounts, with 19 installments released so far. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana ensures compensation for crop losses due to natural disasters, requiring farmers to pay only 1.5 percent to 2 percent of the premium while the government covers the rest.
The Minister said that to tackle the issue of declining groundwater levels, the Mera Pani Meri Virasat scheme was implemented, under which farmers growing crops other than paddy receive Rs. 8,000 per acre. The government also supports natural farming by offering Rs. 30,000 per acre as a subsidy to purchase indigenous cows and providing assistance for drums used to make compost from cow dung, said Sh. Shyam Singh Rana.
During the event, Nayab Singh Saini released five departmental magazines and officially launched the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan poster prepared by ICAR by signing it.
Former Minister of State, Sh. Subhash Sudha, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Department, Dr. Raja Sekhar Vundru, Commissioner & Secretary, Fisheries Department Smt. Amneet P. Kumar, Director Agriculture, Sh. Rajnarayan Kaushik, Director General, Animal Husbandry, Dr. Prem Singh, Media Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Praveen Atreya, Chairman, Sh. Dharamveer Mirzapur, CCSHAU Vice Chancellor Dr. Baldev Raj Kamboj, Vice Chancellor of Maharana Pratap Horticulture University Sh Suresh Kumar Malhotra, and LUVAS Hisar Vice Chancellor Sh Naresh Jindal, and other dignitaries also remained present on this occasion.
55 Years of Congress Misrule Behind Farmers’ Plight, Says Haryana Chief Minister
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently empowered and strengthened farmers
During Congress rule, Rs.7.41 lakh crore was given for MSP of crops, while the Modi government has given Rs. 23.61 lakh crore in the last 10 years
Congress tried to mislead farmers with statements about ending MSP – Nayab Singh Saini
Haryana Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini criticized the Congress, saying the party that enjoyed the pleasures of power for 55 years is responsible for the poor condition of farmers. In contrast, since taking charge as the ‘Pradhan Sevak’ of the country in 2014, Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi has not only consistently empowered and strengthened farmers but also considered them an important pillar of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) and worked to make them self-reliant.
He said that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the central government recently announced an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, and he expressed gratitude for this decision.
Targeting Congress, he said that during elections, Congress leaders tried to mislead farmers by saying that if Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, the MSP would be discontinued. However, the reality is that since 2014, the Prime Minister has continually increased MSP in favor of farmers. The opposition should introspect before questioning the government on farmer welfare and refrain from making statements that harm farmers, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini while addressing farmers from across the state at the launch of the “Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan” held at Kurukshetra University in district Kurukshetra on Thursday. Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh.Shyam Singh Rana was also present at the event.
Congress gave Rs. 7.41 lakh crore for MSP, Modi government gave Rs. 23.61 lakh crore in 10 years
Nayab Singh Saini said that during Congress rule, Rs. 7.41 lakh crore was given for MSP of crops, while the Modi government, in 10 years, provided Rs. 23.61 lakh crore. Until 2014, Congress gave Rs. 2.56 lakh crore MSP for wheat, while the Modi government has given Rs.5.65 lakh crore for wheat since then.
Similarly, Congress gave Rs. 1,900 crore for pulses, whereas the present government has provided Rs. 98,000 crore. For oilseeds, Congress gave Rs. 9,000 crore as MSP, while the Modi government transferred Rs. 65,000 crore directly to farmers’ accounts. For crops like cotton etc., Congress gave Rs. 26,000 crore, while the present government has given Rs. 1.33 lakh crore, informed the Chief Minister.
He said that these figures clearly show that Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi has consistently worked to empower farmers and increase their income.
Present State Government working continuously for farmer upliftment
The Chief Minister said that the Haryana Government is also working continuously for the welfare of farmers. Haryana is the first state in the country to decide to purchase all crops at MSP. To shield farmers from market risks, the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana was launched, under which around Rs. 111 crore has been disbursed to farmers.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Yojana, Rs. 6,563 crore has been transferred to the accounts of around 20 lakh farmers in Haryana. Through the e-Kharid portal, Rs. 1.48 lakh crore has been transferred to 12 lakh farmers for crop purchases at MSP over the last 10 seasons, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
He said that being the son of a farmer, he has worked in the fields and understands the struggles of the working class. For him, the welfare of farmers is paramount. Expressing his gratitude to the Prime Minister, he said only the Prime Minister could entrust a farmer’s son with the responsibility of the state.
During Congress rule, farmers were given compensation cheques of Rs. 2 and Rs. 5
Nayab Singh Saini said that everyone remembers the time before 2014 in Haryana when farmers received cheques of Rs. 2 and Rs. 5 as compensation for crop damage due to natural disasters. The present state government, in contrast, has provided much higher compensation.
He said that while senior Congress leaders remain silent in public, they are active on social media. They should recall that during 10 years of Congress rule, only Rs. 1,155 crore was given as compensation to farmers, whereas the present state government has disbursed Rs. 15,145 crore in the last 10 years.
Recently, for farmers affected by fire damage to their crops, the government provided compensation at the rate of Rs. 30,000 per acre. Every step of this government, he said, is aimed at strengthening the farmer.
