NEW DELHI, October 22 (Aalimi Nation) – The Centre is launching a nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan for the Rabi season on Thursday, with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan leading the start of the campaign from Karnal in Haryana. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said in an official statement that the Khet Bachao Abhiyan will run until November 30.
The campaign aims to protect soil health and promote sustainable farming. According to the ministry, the focus is on the "balanced and judicious use of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs based on soil testing", along with crop diversification and better use of land that lies fallow after the paddy harvest.
Scale of the Khet Bachao Abhiyan
The ministry said it hopes to reach nearly one crore farmers through training sessions, awareness programmes and field demonstrations. About 4,150 teams drawn from Krishi Vigyan Kendras and the Agricultural Technology Management Agencies, known as ATMA, are to take part, with more than 12,000 scientists and ATMA staff expected to contribute.
Activities will be held at state, district, block and Gram Panchayat levels. They include farmers' conferences, Kisan Chaupals, training sessions and demonstrations in the field. The ministry said outreach will use local-language material, radio, Doordarshan and social media.
State agriculture departments, ICAR institutes, state agricultural universities, farmer producer organisations, cooperatives and self-help groups are listed as partners. The ministry said its department "will coordinate with state governments, ICAR institutions and other stakeholders", with particular emphasis on farmers' participation and the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.
What farmers will be told
The agenda goes beyond soil testing. Farmers are to be briefed on organic and bio-based products, natural farming, crop residue management, rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge, and on improving water-use efficiency through climate-resilient practices.
The campaign will double as an outreach drive for government schemes. Officials plan to push Farmer ID creation, spread awareness of crop insurance under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, extend Kisan Credit Card coverage through saturation efforts, and share information on benefits from trade agreements.
The Rabi edition follows an earlier Khet Bachao Abhiyan held during the Kharif season. Mr Chouhan had urged states at the National Agriculture Conference in late September to extend the campaign to Rabi. The framework was then finalised at the ministry's first monthly review meeting at Krishi Bhawan on October 5, which he chaired.
At that meeting, officials said the campaign would address declining soil quality, stubble and crop residue management, and imbalanced use of chemical fertilisers. Agricultural scientists and field staff are to visit farms to advise on soil testing, conserving organic matter, avoiding stubble burning and balanced nutrient management. Mr Chouhan told officials to ensure a robust framework and effective implementation on the ground, and said soil conservation is "integral to the nation's future".
The campaign runs through November 30, covering the Rabi sowing period. No campaign-wide results or targets beyond the outreach numbers have been announced, and the ministry has not yet released details of the launch event itself.
