Shivraj Singh Chouhan Wraps Kharif 2026 National Farm Meet
Synopsis
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan wrapped up the two-day Rashtriya Krishi Sammelan — Kharif Abhiyan 2026 at New Delhi's Pusa campus, announcing a 1.74 lakh quintal national seed reserve, seeds 11% above requirement, and a month-long 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' awareness drive from 1-30 June across India.
Key Takeaways
The two-day Rashtriya Krishi Sammelan — Kharif Abhiyan 2026 concluded at Pusa campus, New Delhi on 29 May 2026 .
Quality seeds are available at approximately 11 per cent above requirement for Kharif 2026, with a national seed reserve of 1.74 lakh quintals prepared.
The 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' awareness campaign will run nationwide from 1 June to 30 June 2026 , covering natural farming, balanced fertiliser use, and crop management.
Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat addressed the conference on natural farming, reinforcing the government's push for sustainable agriculture.
The conference endorsed the principle that rules and procedures must serve farmers, not the other way around, signalling a regulatory simplification drive.
State-wise agricultural roadmaps and centre-state coordination under 'Team Agriculture' were central outcomes of the meeting.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday, 29 May 2026 announced the successful conclusion of the two-day 'Rashtriya Krishi Sammelan — Kharif Abhiyan 2026' held at the Pusa campus of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi, calling it not merely an event but 'the bugle call of a new agricultural revolution.'
Context
The conference brought together state agriculture ministers, scientists, progressive farmers, and officials from both the central and state governments under what Chouhan described as a unified 'Team Agriculture' (Team Agriculture). Wide-ranging discussions covered Kharif 2026 preparedness across seeds, fertilisers, crop insurance, agricultural credit, natural farming, balanced fertiliser use, integrated farming, and state-specific agricultural roadmaps.
Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, a prominent advocate of natural farming, delivered an address at the conference that Chouhan described as 'inspiring guidance' on natural farming practices.
Policy Backdrop
The annual National Kharif Conference is a standing centre-state coordination mechanism held ahead of the monsoon sowing season each year. This year's edition carries added weight given the government's sustained push for natural farming under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, which has been operational since 2015, and the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat agenda in agriculture championed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Chouhan credited Modi's leadership for bringing 'new thinking, modern technology, and farmer welfare' to the sector, framing the conference as a continuation of that resolve. On the input-supply front, the minister stated that quality seeds are available at approximately 11 per cent above requirement to ensure timely farmer support, and a national seed reserve of 1.74 lakh quintals has been created ahead of the season.
Khet Bachao Abhiyan and Regulatory Simplification
A key outcome announced at the conference is the 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' (Save the Farm Campaign), a nationwide farmer-awareness drive scheduled from 1 June to 30 June 2026. The campaign will take outreach workers village-to-village to educate farmers on natural farming, balanced fertiliser use, and better crop management.
Chouhan also articulated a significant policy philosophy to emerge from the deliberations: 'Niyam-prakriya kisan ke liye hai, kisan niyam-prakriya ke liye nahin' — 'Rules and procedures exist for the farmer, not the farmer for rules and procedures.' He stated that wherever regulations become a barrier to reaching eligible farmers, change is necessary — signalling an intent to streamline compliance burdens on beneficiaries.
Stakeholders and What's Next
The conference conclusions are directly relevant to crores of farmers across India who depend on timely seed, fertiliser, and credit availability at the start of the Kharif season. State agriculture departments will now be expected to translate the state-wise roadmaps discussed at the conference into on-ground action before the monsoon onset.
The immediate marker to watch is the rollout of the Khet Bachao Abhiyan from 1 June 2026 and whether state governments follow through on the regulatory simplification mandate signalled by the Union Minister. The emphasis on natural farming, with the Gujarat Governor's participation lending institutional weight, also indicates that the government intends to accelerate adoption beyond its current base. The conference sets a clear benchmark: farmer welfare must drive policy design, not the reverse.
Point of View
But this edition carries a sharper political edge: the explicit declaration that regulations must bend to serve farmers rather than obstruct them is a direct signal of intent to cut bureaucratic red tape ahead of a crucial sowing season. Chouhan's invocation of Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat on natural farming is strategically significant, lending a cross-institutional, non-partisan credibility to what is otherwise a BJP-led policy agenda. The 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' — a village-level outreach drive — also mirrors the ground-mobilisation playbook that Chouhan honed over four terms as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister. Together, these moves suggest the Agriculture Ministry is positioning itself for a high-visibility performance review before the next budget cycle.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Rashtriya Krishi Sammelan Kharif Abhiyan 2026?
It is a two-day national agriculture conference held at Pusa campus in New Delhi, organised by the Union Agriculture Ministry to coordinate Kharif season preparations with state governments, scientists, and farmers ahead of the monsoon sowing period.
What is the Khet Bachao Abhiyan and when will it run?
The 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' is a nationwide farmer-awareness campaign announced at the conference. It will run from 1 June to 30 June 2026 , with outreach teams visiting villages to educate farmers on natural farming, balanced fertiliser use, and better crop management.
How much seed has been reserved for Kharif 2026?
According to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, quality seeds are available at approximately 11 per cent above requirement , and a national seed reserve of 1.74 lakh quintals has been prepared for the Kharif 2026 season.
What role did Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat play at the conference?
Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat addressed the conference and provided guidance on natural farming. He is a well-known advocate of natural and zero-budget farming practices, and his participation lent institutional weight to the government's push for sustainable agriculture.
What does 'rules exist for farmers, not farmers for rules' mean in this context?
Union Agriculture Minister Chouhan articulated at the conference that wherever government rules and procedures become a barrier to eligible farmers receiving benefits, those rules must be changed. This signals an intent to simplify regulatory and compliance requirements that delay or block farmer welfare scheme disbursements.
