Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a virtual meeting with agriculture ministers from various states to review the progress of Farmer ID implementation, fertiliser availability, and key central agricultural schemes. The meeting emphasized improving farmer services and ensuring the effective execution of government initiatives.
During the review, the minister highlighted that over 92.5 million Farmer IDs have already been generated across 19 states. He directed state agriculture and revenue departments to jointly run a campaign to achieve 100% coverage within the next six months. He also stressed that registration should not be limited to PM-Kisan beneficiaries, but must include all eligible farmers.
Addressing fertiliser availability, the minister made it clear that farmers should not face any shortage under any circumstances. States have been instructed to take strict action against hoarding and black marketing. He also called for a technology-driven, balanced distribution system and increased awareness to promote organic and natural farming practices. Special vigilance has been advised in border areas to curb illegal movement of fertilisers.
The meeting also reviewed procurement of pulses and oilseeds at Minimum Support Price (MSP) under the PM-AASHA scheme. The central government has approved procurement of crops such as gram, moong, urad, arhar, mustard, lentil, groundnut, and sunflower in multiple states. The minister directed that procurement must strictly adhere to FAQ (Fair Average Quality) standards.
The minister emphasized that procurement should be carried out directly from farmers, ensuring they receive fair prices for their produce. Aadhaar-linked registration and biometric or face authentication have been made mandatory at procurement centres. Payments are to be transferred directly into farmers’ bank accounts through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer), ensuring transparency and eliminating intermediaries.
To strengthen the agriculture sector, the country will be divided into five agro-climatic zones, with regional agriculture conferences planned for each. The first conference for the western zone will begin on April 7 in Jaipur, where region-specific agricultural challenges and solutions will be discussed.
Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan to Resume:
The minister also announced the revival of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA). Last year, the campaign successfully reached over 60,000 villages across 728 districts, where scientists directly interacted with farmers. This year, a 15–20 day campaign is proposed in May to promote modern farming techniques, improved seed varieties, and advanced technologies. The initiative will be supported by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Focus on Fair Pricing and Farmer Support:
Concluding the meeting, the minister stressed that ensuring fair prices for farmers, timely grievance redressal, and a transparent procurement system is the responsibility of state governments. These efforts are crucial for strengthening the agricultural sector and ensuring sustainable growth in farmers’ income.
FAQs:
1. What is Farmer ID?
Farmer ID is a unique identification system that helps farmers access government schemes easily.
2. How many Farmer IDs have been created?
Over 92.5 million Farmer IDs have been generated across 19 states.
3. What is PM-AASHA scheme?
PM-AASHA is a government scheme that ensures MSP procurement of crops from farmers.
4. How will farmers receive payments?
Payments will be made directly to bank accounts through DBT.
5. What is Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan?
It is a campaign to educate farmers about modern farming techniques and technologies.
