Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday, 26 June 2026, called upon farmers across the state to adopt natural and balanced farming practices under the 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' (Save the Farm Campaign), aimed at preserving soil fertility, ensuring safe food production, and protecting the health of agricultural land.

Context

In his post, CM Dhami framed the campaign as a broad appeal to the farming community, stating that the initiative urges cultivators to move toward prakritik evam santulit kheti (natural and balanced farming) to keep dharti maa — Mother Earth — healthy. The message underscores the dual concern of maintaining long-term soil productivity while also guaranteeing that food reaching consumers is free from harmful chemical residues.

Uttarakhand's mountainous terrain makes its farmlands particularly vulnerable to soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and the cascading effects of excessive agrochemical use. Smallholder farmers in the state's hilly districts have historically faced challenges balancing productivity with ecological sustainability.

Policy Backdrop

The Khet Bachao Abhiyan aligns with a broader national shift in agricultural policy that has been gathering pace since the mid-2010s. The central government's Soil Health Card Scheme, launched in 2015, provides farmers with detailed soil nutrient status reports, enabling informed decisions on fertiliser use and reducing indiscriminate chemical application.

Simultaneously, the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, also introduced in 2015, has promoted cluster-based organic farming across India, including in Uttarakhand, by offering financial and technical support for chemical-free cultivation. The state has been a consistent participant in these centrally sponsored schemes, given its ecologically fragile Himalayan geography and the national emphasis on preserving biodiversity in such regions.

India's National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture has further articulated long-term goals around climate-resilient farming, soil health, and reduced dependence on synthetic inputs — objectives that state-level campaigns such as this one are designed to advance at the grassroots level.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of the Khet Bachao Abhiyan are Uttarakhand's smallholder and marginal farmers, many of whom operate on terraced hillside plots where soil degradation can rapidly render land unproductive. A shift toward natural and balanced farming could reduce their input costs over time while also improving the quality and market value of produce — particularly relevant as consumer demand for organic and chemical-free food grows in urban markets.

Beyond individual farmers, the campaign carries implications for the state's water systems and biodiversity. Reduced chemical runoff from agricultural land protects rivers and groundwater sources that millions of people in the broader Gangetic plains depend upon. Environmental groups and agri-extension workers are among the non-farmer stakeholders with a direct interest in the campaign's reach and effectiveness.

What's Next

The practical impact of the Khet Bachao Abhiyan will be measured by farmer uptake during the upcoming Kharif and Rabi sowing seasons. Key indicators to watch include the number of farmers who register for or receive guidance under the campaign, integration of the initiative with existing centrally sponsored schemes, and any state budget allocations directed toward natural farming support infrastructure such as bio-input resource centres and training programmes. How the Dhami government translates this public appeal into on-ground implementation will determine whether the campaign becomes a durable policy intervention or remains an awareness drive.