Bhubaneswar: Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday announced the Centre will launch a nationwide ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ from June 1, aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Inaugurating the Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference in Bhubaneswar, Chouhan said the campaign will focus on balanced fertiliser use, improving soil health, adoption of modern technologies, awareness about government schemes and farmer education.

He stressed the need to prevent diversion of subsidised fertilisers, asserting that such inputs must be used strictly for agricultural purposes. Highlighting the importance of sustainable farming, the Minister warned indiscriminate use of fertilisers without proper soil testing increases input costs and damages soil fertility. He urged states to encourage scientific and need-based fertiliser usage.

Emphasising the need to boost production of pulses and oilseeds, Chouhan said eastern India has immense potential to make the country self-reliant in these sectors. He noted farmers will expand cultivation only when assured of procurement support, and called for strengthening mechanisms such as PM-AASHA, procurement systems, NAFED, NCCF and state agencies.

Describing fake fertilisers, substandard seeds and counterfeit pesticides as serious crimes against farmers, he announced a large-scale crackdown would be launched against such practices. He also called for stricter laws and stronger enforcement by states to ensure farmers receive quality inputs without escalating cultivation costs.

The Minister further emphasised the need to take scientific research and technology directly to farmers through institutions such as ICAR and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). He urged states to undertake region-specific outreach campaigns to ensure timely dissemination of research findings, modern technologies and scheme-related information.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who attended the conference, said the event provides an important platform for eastern states to develop a shared roadmap for the future of agriculture.

Highlighting Odisha’s farmer-centric initiatives, Majhi referred to paddy procurement, input assistance, CM-Kisan and PM-Kisan schemes, crop insurance, farm mechanisation, strengthening of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), cold storage expansion and promotion of agri-industries. He stressed that policy support, infrastructure, organised marketing systems and entrepreneurship-driven approaches are essential to connect farmers with sustainable and profitable agriculture.

He added that Odisha’s priorities include strengthening FPOs, expanding cold storage infrastructure, promoting agri-entrepreneurship, coffee cultivation and improving marketing of local agricultural products.

The conference brought together representatives from Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal to deliberate on key issues related to agricultural transformation in eastern India.

Union Ministers of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary and Ramnath Thakur, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Bihar Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, Chhattisgarh Agriculture Minister Ramvichar Netam, West Bengal Minister Ashok Keertania, Union Agriculture Secretary Atish Chandra, ICAR Director General Mangi Lal Jat, along with senior officials, scientists, farmer representatives, KVKs, FPOs, startups, NABARD and banking institutions, were present at the event.