- In Vidisha, Shivraj Sir’s class is in session; the farmers’ school will change the destiny of farming
- “A model KVK will be built in Vidisha’s Berkhedi Jetu; a 49 acre live laboratory of modern farming”: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
- “Scientific farming roadmap for Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore, Dewas districts; focus on integrated farming”: Shri Shivraj Singh
- Balanced fertilisers, soil health and fake fertilisers–seeds: Clear message from Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan on ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’
- “Crops will also have a hospital in the form of an Agri Clinic; scientific advice at every field through 155261 number and mobile app”: Shri Shivraj Singh
- “Easy access for every farmer to laser leveller, drip–sprinkler and Direct Seeded Rice through Custom Hiring Centres and machine banks”: Shri Shivraj Singh
- “Formula of good seed, good nursery and value addition; promotion of processing–startups from tomato to mushroom”: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
- “Pulses–Oilseeds Mission, procurement on MSP and new hope for young and women farmers through agricultural campaign”: Shri Shivraj Singh
Vidisha, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan today laid the foundation stone of a unique ‘school for farmers’ in Berkhedi Jetu of Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, and presented a big resolve to transform farming. Instead of a formal gathering and long welcome speeches, the focus remained directly on fields and farmers in the presence of Shri Shivraj Singh, other public representatives and scientists. Along with the foundation stone laying of the model Agricultural Science Centre, a scientific farming roadmap for Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore and Dewas, the ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ and a complete chain of modern machinery and innovation were launched. Speaking in simple, conversational language with farmer brothers and sisters, ‘Shivraj Sir’ clearly said that this is not a political gathering but a class on farming, where even a small farmer with two and a half acres of land is given the resolve to earn a respectable livelihood through integrated farming, balanced fertilisers, good soil and good technology. This initiative aims to bring real change in the lives of farmers by providing practical knowledge and modern tools.
Farmers’ School in Vidisha
Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan made it clear right at the beginning that this programme is not for gathering crowds or giving speeches but for training farmers. He also told the media that the farmers who have come here have not been brought in buses or vehicles; those who want to learn have come on their own, therefore instead of formal stage formalities, there will be a direct class. Union Minister Shri Shivraj Chouhan said that every farmer attending the event should be considered a student, for whom scientists will present their points in limited words and then take them directly to the fields to demonstrate machines and new technologies. This approach ensures that learning is practical and directly applicable in the fields.
Model KVK: 49-acre Live Laboratory
This Agricultural Science Centre being built in Berkhedi Jetu will be the country’s model Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) on 49 acres of land, where demonstration plots of modern farming will start from this Kharif season itself. Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan made it clear that work on the fields will begin immediately without waiting for the building construction – farmers will be taught by showing them with their own eyes, not just by telling. Through this KVK, research from Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)’s 113 institutions and more than 1,700 KVK institutions will be taken directly to the farmers of the Vidisha region through mobile, demos and training. This live laboratory will serve as a centre of excellence for scientific farming practices in the region.
Scientific Farming Roadmap: Respectable income on two and a half acres
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh said that lands have become smaller due to division, but even on two and a half acres (one hectare), if integrated farming is done properly, the livelihood of the entire family can be comfortably sustained. For this, a scientific analysis of the soil, water and resources of Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore and Dewas districts has been done and a crop-pattern roadmap has been prepared, whose training will be given from this KVK. Model farms will be created in the fields to show how maximum profit can be earned by combining grains, pulses, oilseeds, horticulture, animal husbandry, fish farming, beekeeping and mushroom on the same piece of land. This integrated approach will help small farmers achieve better income and sustainability.
‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’: Less fertiliser, Right fertiliser, Right advice
While expanding his nationwide ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan made an emotional appeal to farmers in Vidisha to save Mother Earth. He said that applying chemical fertilisers and pesticides indiscriminately without testing the soil will destroy the fertility of the earth, therefore the campaign of soil testing of every farmer’s field and ‘Soil Health Card’ will be intensified. Along with balanced fertilisers in farming, natural and organic farming will also be promoted, where farmers will be encouraged to try scientific natural farming on at least half an acre so that production does not decrease while the health of the soil improves. This campaign aims to protect the fields for future generations.
Agri Clinic, Helpline and Mobile App for advice at every field
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh announced that an ‘Agri Clinic’, a hospital for crops, will be established in this model KVK of Vidisha, where farmers will bring samples of plants, leaves or soil and scientists will identify the disease and immediately suggest treatment. Along with this, farmers will also get immediate advice over the phone through numbers like 155261, like Bharat Vistaar – Kisan Sarathi, and digital platforms – for every problem from yellowing of leaves to pest attack. Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan also said that through a mobile app, while walking in the field itself, one will be able to know which nutrients are there in the soil and how much DAP (diammonium phosphate) and urea is needed, whose live demonstration he will himself give by going to the fields. This facility will provide scientific advice directly at the doorstep of farmers.
Strictness on fake fertilisers – seeds, guarantee of good seed – good nursery
Union Minister Shri Chouhan, addressing farmers’ biggest concern of fake fertilisers, pesticides and seeds, clearly said that whoever cheats with farmers will not be spared at any cost. He appealed to farmers to take proper bills, check authenticity through QR codes and immediately complain about fake material, and assured that the government will take strict action. He said that in Vidisha KVK, arrangements will be made for preparing good seeds, developing quality fruit–vegetable nurseries and giving training on correct seed selection and seed treatment so that farmers are saved from cheating and get good crops. This will ensure quality inputs for better yields.
Machine Bank and modern equipment: Technology at every field
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced Custom Hiring Centres and Machine Banks for small and marginal farmers, where modern machines like laser leveller, Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) machine, drip–sprinkler will be available on rent. He said that it is not possible for every farmer to buy every machine, therefore machines will be kept in the KVK. Farmers can use them by paying nominal rent as per need and return them. Live demos of direct seeding of paddy in less water, micro irrigation and laser levelling will be shown in the fields after today’s programme so that farmers can see, understand and adopt the technology themselves. This will make advanced tools accessible to all.
Value Addition, Processing, Startups and Skill Development
Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shri Shivraj Singh, while talking about the problem of ups and downs in the prices of tomatoes, vegetables and fruits, said that selling only raw material causes loss to farmers, therefore training in value addition and food processing will be given here. Through the KVK, technology of making processed products from tomatoes, vegetables, fruits and grains, packaging and linking with markets will be shown to encourage youth towards agriculture-based startups. Skill development programmes will also be run for activities like mushroom production, poultry, beekeeping and dairy so that village youth can earn good livelihood by staying connected with farming. This will create additional income opportunities.
Pulses–Oilseeds Mission and MSP Procurement
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan reiterated the resolve to speed up the ‘Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission’ to increase production of pulses and oilseeds. He said that along with pulses like gram, pigeon pea, lentil and black gram, cultivation of oilseeds including sesame will be increased by providing good seeds to farmers for free demonstration plots and cluster-based farming will be promoted. Shri Shivraj Singh assured that whatever pulses (pigeon pea, black gram and lentil) the farmer produces, it will be procured at Minimum Support Price (MSP) and where production is higher, subsidy up to Rs. 25 lakh will be given for setting up dal mills. This will boost farmer income and self-reliance.
Emotional appeal to farmers and direction towards a mass movement
At the end of the programme, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan made farmers take a pledge by raising their hands that they will save Mother Earth, use balanced fertilisers and improve the health of the soil for future generations. He said that ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ is not just a government scheme but a mass movement, in which scientists, KVKs, ICAR, state governments, public representatives, Self-Help Groups, FPOs and farmer organisations will work together. This collective effort will bring lasting change.
Describing himself as ‘a wanderer who awakens farmers village to village’, he assured that as long as he is alive, he will continue to take such classes across the country to change the life of farming and farmers and this model KVK of Vidisha will become an inspiration for the entire country. On this occasion, benefits of various schemes were also distributed to the farmers.
In the programme, Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Minister Shri Aidal Singh Kansana, Revenue Minister Shri Karan Singh, former Minister Shri Surya Prakash Meena, MLA Shri Mukesh Tandon, Shri Hari Singh Raghuvanshi, Shri Hari Singh Sapre, Shri Umakant Sharma, Shri Ramakant Bhargava, Shri Surendra Patwa, Shri Aashish Govind Sharma and other public representatives were present. Along with this, Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary of DARE Dr. Mangi Lal Jat and CII’s Shri Siddharth Chaturvedi, Dhanuka’s Shri R. C. Agarwal, IFFCO’s Dr. Yogendra Kumar and many other scientists, experts and officers of ICAR and Agriculture Department participated in this key farmer training programme.
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