Haryana CM launches 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' from Kurukshetra

Kurukshetra (Haryana) [India], May 29 (ANI): As part of the nationwide Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini launched the state-level campaign from Kurukshetra on Thursday.
According to an official release, the objective of the campaign is to improve the agricultural sector by connecting farmers with new technologies, schemes, and innovations.

It aims to educate farmers on scientific techniques for Kharif crops, highlight the importance of soil health cards, and provide access to government schemes and policies.
Through direct interaction with farmers, feedback will be gathered to guide future agricultural research. This campaign, running across the state until June 12, is a testament to the government's commitment to empowering farmers.

Addressing farmers from across the state at a joint event organised by Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, and Animal Husbandry along with ICAR at Kurukshetra University campus, CM Saini said that India has achieved self-reliance in food grain production due to the hard work and dedication of its farmers.

He emphasised that this campaign will turn every farmer into a policy participant and an innovation partner and it is not just a program, but a public movement that will be a major step toward empowering farmers with knowledge, innovation, and technology.
"It is a triveni, where agricultural scientists, officers from agriculture and allied departments, and farmers will engage in direct dialogue," he said.

The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi considers farmers the backbone of his vision for a Viksit Bharat. A developed, strong, and prosperous India is only possible when our farmers are self-reliant.

He stated that under this mega campaign, more than 2,000 teams of agricultural scientists and officers have been formed across the country.
These teams will visit villages and directly interact with around 1.5 crore farmers - making it the largest outreach programme in the history of Indian agriculture. During the campaign, farmers will receive advice based on local climate, soil, and crop conditions.

The Chief Minister said that Haryana is an agriculture-dominated state, but faces challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, declining soil fertility, and changing market demands. The Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan will empower farmers to address these issues.
It will act as a bridge from lab to land, bringing agricultural research directly to the farmers' fields. Scientists, officers, and progressive farmers will work together to cover 1,380 villages and 109 blocks across the state.

He added that digital tools have revolutionised farming. During the campaign, information about digital technologies will also be shared to help farmers transition towards smart agriculture while retaining traditional methods.

The Chief Minister said the Haryana government is consistently launching farmer-friendly welfare schemes.
The state has given a bonus of Rs. 2,000 per acre for Kharif crops, amounting to Rs 1,345 crore, a first in Haryana's history. The long-standing colonial-era system of abiyana has been abolished, and pending dues worth Rs133 crore have been waived.

He said the compensation policy for high-tension electricity lines passing through farmland. Farmers are now entitled to 200 percent of the market rate for tower area land and 30 percent for land under power lines. Additionally, the government has granted ownership rights to tenant farmers.

The Chief Minister called on farmers to switch from water-intensive crops to alternatives and adopt natural farming practices, which are essential for today's environmental needs. He echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to conserve every drop of water and promote micro-irrigation.

He urged farmers to turn this campaign into a people's movement and take decisive steps toward making India a developed nation once again.

Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister, Shyam Singh Rana said that the 15-day campaign aims to boost crop production by providing farmers with land-related information, benefits of government schemes, and a platform for voicing their concerns.
Scientists will interact directly with farmers to understand and respond to their needs. Recently, 15 lakh farmers in the state received their soil test reports via mobile, giving them valuable insights into their farm health.

He highlighted the success of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, which provides Rs 6,000 per year directly into farmers' accounts, with 19 installments released so far.
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana ensures compensation for crop losses due to natural disasters, requiring farmers to pay only 1.5 percent to 2 percent of the premium while the government covers the rest.

The Minister said that to tackle the issue of declining groundwater levels, the Mera Pani Meri Virasat scheme was implemented, under which farmers growing crops other than paddy receive Rs 8,000 per acre.
"The government also supports natural farming by offering Rs 30,000 per acre as a subsidy to purchase indigenous cows and providing assistance for drums used to make compost from cow dung," said Shyam Singh Rana.

During the event, CM Nayab Singh Saini released five departmental magazines and officially launched the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan poster prepared by ICAR by signing it. (ANI)