Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday, 25 June 2026, to observe the use of Dhaincha (Sesbania) as a green manure crop, underscoring the Centre's push to reduce chemical fertilizer dependence among Indian farmers.

Posting on X, the Minister described Dhaincha as 'an excellent green manure (harit khaad) that nourishes the soil naturally, enhances soil fertility, and reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers.' The field visit, accompanied by a video, highlighted the crop's role in sustainable nutrient management during the kharif sowing season.

Context

Dhaincha (Sesbania bispinosa) is a fast-growing leguminous crop traditionally ploughed back into the soil before the main kharif crop is transplanted. It fixes atmospheric nitrogen, adds organic matter, and suppresses weeds — all without any purchased input. Uttar Pradesh, with its large rice-wheat belt, is among the states where agricultural extension services have long promoted the practice, particularly in districts with heavy chemical fertilizer use.

Ayodhya district sits within this belt and has extensive smallholder farming communities that are primary targets for sustainable agriculture outreach programmes run by the state and central governments.

Policy Backdrop

The visit aligns with at least three central schemes. The Soil Health Card scheme, launched in 2015, tests farm soils and recommends balanced nutrient application, explicitly encouraging organic options such as green manuring. The Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, also started in 2015, promotes organic and natural farming practices including green manure crops. The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, initiated in 2010, mainstreams climate-resilient soil-health practices across states.

Underlying all three is a fiscal pressure: India's chemical fertilizer subsidy bill runs into tens of thousands of crore rupees annually, and reducing farmer dependence on urea and DAP is both an environmental and a budgetary priority for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Stakeholders and Impact

Smallholder farmers stand to benefit most directly. Dhaincha seed is low-cost, the crop matures in 45–60 days, and it can substitute a significant portion of the nitrogen that would otherwise come from purchased urea. Agricultural extension workers and Krishi Vigyan Kendras in Uttar Pradesh have been tasked with demonstrating such integrated nutrient management techniques at the field level.

For the government, wider adoption would ease pressure on the fertilizer subsidy budget while simultaneously improving soil organic carbon levels — a metric increasingly tied to India's climate commitments. The timing of the minister's visit, at the onset of kharif season, is intended to influence farmer choices before the main planting window closes.

What's Next

Observers will watch whether the Uttar Pradesh government follows up with targeted Dhaincha seed distribution or incentive programmes in Ayodhya and neighbouring districts. Any mention of expanded green manure targets in the next Union agriculture budget or in parliamentary committee deliberations would signal that this field visit is part of a broader policy push rather than a standalone demonstration. The kharif season results from districts where the practice is actively promoted will be a key data point for policymakers assessing the scalability of green manuring across India's rice-growing states.