Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, participated in the ‘Krishi Samvad’ program held in Nagpur under the ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’. During the event, he addressed the farmers and emphasized the vision of "One Nation – One Agriculture – One Team", calling for collaborative efforts in the agriculture sector.
During the event, Union Minister Chouhan and Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated India's first National Soil Spectral Library. With this, Maharashtra has become the first state in the country to have a state-level soil health map. The data has been developed using hyperspectral sensor technology by the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS & LUP).
Shri Chouhan announced the setting up of a National Laboratory in Pune under the Clean Plant Program, which will focus on the research of original plant varieties. He highlighted the importance of high-quality seeds, soil testing, and reducing input costs to boost agricultural productivity.
The Union Minister informed that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has 113 institutes across the country, 11 of which are located in Maharashtra. He announced that a meeting of heads of all ICAR institutes would be held in Nagpur to bridge the gap between laboratory research and farm-level application. From May 29 to June 12, agricultural scientists will visit villages to guide farmers on sustainable practices and Kharif crop planning.
AI-Based Smart Trap Launched for Cotton Farmers: To combat the pink bollworm infestation in cotton crops, Chouhan launched an AI-based Smart Trap Technology, which will provide real-time alerts to farmers regarding pest attacks. On this occasion, progressive farmers from the Nagpur division were felicitated for their work in natural farming, organic farming, and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
Improved Irrigation and Farm Machinery Support for Farmers: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shared details of the Wainganga-Nalganga River Linking Project, which aims to boost irrigation capacity in the Vidarbha region. He assured full support from the state government for the central government's inclusive agricultural policies. State Agriculture Minister Adv. Manikrao Kokate raised concerns over labor shortages for cotton harvesting and informed that research is underway on battery-operated mini tractors to assist farmers.
Read More- PM Surya Ghar Yojana
