Sonowal joins Khet Bachao Abhiyan event in Guwahati
Synopsis
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal joined the Khet Bachao Abhiyan in Guwahati on 20 June 2026, organised by KVK Kamrup, ICAR, and Assam Agricultural University, to promote soil health and scientific nutrient management among farmers under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Key Takeaways
Sarbananda Sonowal participated in the Khet Bachao Abhiyan event in Guwahati on 20 June 2026 .
The event was jointly organised by KVK Kamrup , the Government of Assam , ICAR , and Assam Agricultural University .
The campaign focuses on soil health , balanced fertiliser use , and sustainable agriculture .
The initiative is framed as part of PM Narendra Modi 's Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision, first articulated in May 2020 .
Krishi Vigyan Kendras , established by ICAR since 1974 , serve as the ground-level delivery network for such outreach programmes.
The Guwahati event reflects the government's push to extend agricultural science outreach to Northeast India .
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal participated in the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan event held in Guwahati on Saturday, 20 June 2026, organised jointly by KVK Kamrup, the Government of Assam, ICAR, and Assam Agricultural University.
Context
Sonowal, a senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Assam, attended the campaign event in his home state, signalling the programme's reach into the Northeast. He described the initiative as being 'inspired by Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji's vision of building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.' The campaign, he noted, 'focuses on soil health, balanced fertiliser use, and sustainable agriculture.'
The minister highlighted that Khet Bachao Abhiyan has 'established a robust outreach across the country to educate our Annadatas on scientific nutrient management,' using the term Annadatas — a respectful reference to farmers meaning 'providers of food.'
Policy Backdrop
The Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision was articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2020, with agriculture identified as a pillar of national self-reliance — particularly reducing dependence on imported chemical fertilisers. The Soil Health Card Scheme, launched in February 2015, laid earlier groundwork by providing farmers with soil nutrient assessments and tailored fertiliser recommendations.
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), first established by ICAR in 1974, serve as the primary on-ground technology transfer and farmer training network across India. The involvement of KVK Kamrup and Assam Agricultural University in this event reflects coordination between central and state agricultural institutions in extending such programmes to regions with distinct agro-climatic conditions.
The government has consistently framed sustainable agriculture outreach — emphasising soil testing and balanced nutrient application — as integral to the broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat goal. Events in the Northeast are part of efforts to ensure these programmes reach areas that have historically received less agricultural extension coverage.
Stakeholders and Impact
The primary beneficiaries of Khet Bachao Abhiyan are India's farming communities, referred to in the campaign's messaging as Annadatas. The programme's emphasis on scientific nutrient management aims to improve soil productivity while reducing the financial and environmental costs associated with excessive or imbalanced fertiliser use.
For Assam specifically, participation by a senior Union Minister who is also a former Chief Minister of the state lends political and administrative weight to the campaign's local rollout. Collaboration between ICAR and Assam Agricultural University positions the event as both a policy outreach exercise and a knowledge-transfer platform for farmers in the region.
What's Next
The expansion of Khet Bachao Abhiyan's coverage and its potential integration with the existing Soil Health Card Scheme at the state level will be key indicators of the programme's long-term impact. Observers will watch for references to the initiative in upcoming central agricultural budget allocations or NITI Aayog review documents. Events such as the Guwahati gathering suggest the campaign is actively scaling its outreach beyond traditionally targeted agricultural belts into the Northeast, a region with significant untapped potential for science-based farming improvements.
Point of View
Where agricultural extension has historically lagged, events of this kind carry both symbolic and practical weight. The involvement of ICAR and Assam Agricultural University signals an attempt to institutionalise the outreach rather than treat it as a one-off political event.
NationPress
20 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Khet Bachao Abhiyan?
Khet Bachao Abhiyan is a nationwide campaign run through Krishi Vigyan Kendras and ICAR that focuses on soil health, balanced fertiliser use, and sustainable agriculture to educate farmers on scientific nutrient management.
Why did Sarbananda Sonowal attend an agriculture event when he is the Ports Minister?
Sonowal is a senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Assam, and senior ministers frequently represent the central government at flagship scheme events in their home states regardless of their current portfolio.
What is the connection between Khet Bachao Abhiyan and Aatmanirbhar Bharat?
The campaign is framed as part of PM Narendra Modi's Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision, which includes reducing India's dependence on imported chemical fertilisers by promoting balanced and scientific nutrient management among farmers.
What is the Soil Health Card Scheme?
The Soil Health Card Scheme, launched in February 2015, provides farmers with an assessment of their soil's nutrient status and recommendations for fertiliser use, complementing campaigns like Khet Bachao Abhiyan.
