Centre to launch ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ across India for reducing fertiliser use from June 1

Ziraat Times Team Report

New Delhi, May 30: The Central Government will launch a nationwide month-long ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ (Save Farms Campaign) from June 1 to June 30, focusing on balanced fertiliser use, weather-based farm advisories, soil health improvement and direct delivery of agricultural schemes to farmers at the village level.

The campaign’s preparations were reviewed on Friday at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi.

Addressing officials, Chouhan said the campaign should evolve beyond a conventional awareness programme and become a comprehensive national movement connecting farms, farmers and villages. He stressed that its success would depend on strong coordination between Panchayats, state governments and the Centre.

“The campaign will not follow a top-down model. It will be implemented through partnership and participation from the village level to the national level,” the minister said.

A central objective of the campaign will be to reduce the excessive and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and promote balanced nutrient management based on scientific recommendations. Farmers will be encouraged to use fertilisers according to soil test results and increase the adoption of green manure, organic inputs and bio-products.

Officials said live demonstrations on Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) will be organised during the campaign to showcase sustainable farming practices.

The initiative will also provide farmers with practical, field-level guidance tailored to local conditions. Advisories will cover weather-related risks, crop selection, crop diversification, water scarcity management and region-specific agricultural challenges.

Chouhan said the campaign’s focus would not be limited to disseminating information but would ensure that farmers receive timely and relevant advice based on prevailing conditions in their areas.

The minister directed officials to establish a strong implementation framework at the Panchayat level and integrate the distribution of farm machinery and benefits from government schemes into the campaign. He said farmers should be able to access services and support programmes directly within their villages.

The campaign is also expected to involve elected representatives at multiple levels. Chouhan said Chief Ministers, ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assemblies and other public representatives would be encouraged to participate to transform the initiative into a broad-based public movement rather than a purely administrative exercise.

According to officials, more than 1,600 teams have been constituted to implement the campaign nationwide. Of these, 500 teams will focus on 100 districts identified for excessive fertiliser use. These teams will include scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), researchers from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and officials from agriculture departments.

In addition, over 1,150 multidisciplinary teams from ICAR institutes and KVKs will conduct field-level outreach and advisory activities simultaneously across the country. KVKs have been designated as the primary coordinating agencies for participating institutions.

Officials said the campaign would adopt an integrated approach by linking farmers with various government initiatives, including the PM-KISAN scheme, Kisan Credit Cards, pulses and oilseeds missions, oil palm promotion programmes, cotton development initiatives, soil health programmes and water conservation efforts.

The Union Minister said the campaign’s guiding principles would be balanced fertiliser use, weather-responsive farming practices, stronger Panchayat-level participation, wider access to government schemes and active involvement of public representatives.

“The direction is clear: save farms, reduce cultivation costs, improve soil health, empower farmers with knowledge and build a new culture of scientific agricultural management at the village level,” Chouhan said.

The campaign is expected to run across the country throughout June, with officials hoping it will lay the foundation for long-term improvements in soil health, farm productivity and sustainable agricultural practices.