New Delhi, May 31: On June 1, the ‘Save the Fields Campaign’ will be launched nationally from Ramsiya village in Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh. Ahead of this initiative, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a virtual dialogue with agricultural scientists, officials from ICAR institutions, agricultural universities, and senior officials from central and state governments.
Chouhan urged for public participation, scientific insight, and a sense of national responsibility to drive the campaign forward. He has discussed the initiative with Chief Ministers from various states and is appealing for participation from central ministers and other public representatives.
During the event, Chouhan emphasized that this is not merely a government program but a national movement aimed at protecting Mother Earth, securing the future of farming, and safeguarding the rights of future generations. He pointed out that rising temperatures, unbalanced use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, declining soil health, and the climate crisis pose serious challenges to agriculture. Therefore, widespread awareness and practical interventions are essential.
The campaign will focus on educating farmers about balanced fertilizer use, soil testing, soil health cards, natural farming, crop selection, water conservation, green manure, alternative agricultural practices in low rainfall conditions, and identifying fake fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides.
Chouhan stressed that merely providing advice is insufficient; it is crucial to build farmers’ trust through demonstrations, scientific evidence, and practical examples at the field level.
He directed that a detailed roadmap be prepared by June 30, outlining which officials, scientists, institutions, or teams will visit which villages on specific dates. Each district’s program should be pre-planned, with dashboard-based monitoring, proper local arrangements, and effective coordination at every stage of the campaign.
Highlighting the importance of state agricultural departments, Chouhan called for a united effort from the central government, state governments, ICAR, agricultural universities, agricultural science centers, public representatives, students, and farmer-friendly organizations to ensure the campaign’s success. He also encouraged MPs, MLAs, and other representatives to engage with the campaign and showcase practical examples of natural and sustainable farming.
Chouhan proposed that the campaign should also encompass various schemes such as the Farmer Credit Card, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, crop insurance schemes, soil health cards, mini seed kits, pulse and oilseed missions, and agricultural mechanization. This would not only help save the fields but also enhance farmers’ income, awareness, and agricultural management capabilities.
He stressed the importance of outreach, stating that the quicker the information reaches villages, the more impactful the campaign will be. Chouhan encouraged officials and scientists to communicate openly with the media, as this campaign is closely tied to the future of the earth, farming, and food producers.
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