Shivraj Singh Chouhan Interacted with Punjab Farmers, Visited Farm Machinery Factory in Patiala

The Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan has reached its halfway mark. On the eighth day of the campaign, Union Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, interacted with farmers in Punjab. He visited farmlands to review crop conditions and also toured a factory manufacturing agricultural machinery in Amargarh, Patiala.

Highlighting his personal involvement, the Minister shared that he drove a tractor in the fields to better understand the practical challenges faced by farmers. He reiterated that future agricultural policies would be formulated based on grassroots-level data collected during this campaign.

On this occasion, Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian; Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR), Dr. M.L. Jat; Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal; Secretary of the Punjab Agriculture Department, Dr. Basant Garg; along with several scientists and officials, were present.

Punjab’s Role in Food Security
Praising the contribution of Punjab’s farmers, Chouhan said the state has long served as the food bowl of India. He recalled the days when India had to rely on low-quality wheat imports under the PL-480 agreement and credited the Green Revolution for ending that dependency. He commended the dedication of Punjab’s farmers and their key role in the nation's agricultural progress.

Promoting Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR)
Discussing modern techniques, Chouhan highlighted the benefits of Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) as a water- and cost-efficient alternative to traditional transplanting. Farmers, he said, have reported consistent yields with reduced labour and input costs. He also stressed the need for balanced pesticide use to protect crop quality and reduce expenses.

Punjab’s Horticulture and Export Potential
The Minister observed that Punjab’s fertile land supports a wide range of crops and holds great potential for horticulture. He emphasized the need to produce export-quality fruits and vegetables and encouraged collective efforts to expand this opportunity.

Six-Point Vision for Indian Agriculture
Shivraj Singh outlined six key objectives for Indian agriculture: enhancing productivity, reducing production costs, ensuring fair prices, compensating for crop losses, encouraging diversification, and preserving natural resources for future generations.

He emphasized the importance of developing heat-tolerant seeds in response to climate change and urged ICAR scientists to lead the way in climate-resilient, research-based farming practices.

Export of Farm Machinery
Shivraj Singh Chouhan called for India to emerge as a global exporter of agricultural machinery. He proposed designing equipment tailored to international markets while ensuring the availability of affordable, small-scale machines for India’s marginal farmers. "Pricing should be such that farmers can purchase equipment without a financial burden," he said.

Revoking the Indus Waters Treaty
Chouhan welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to revoke the Indus Waters Treaty. He stated that the treaty had long impacted farmers in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. With this change, he expressed hope that India’s water resources would now serve the interests of its farmers.