New Delhi, May 30 (IANS) The Centre on Saturday said that Agriculture Ministers from 22 states have not only supported natural farming at the policy level but also adopted and experimented with it on their own farms to inspire greater confidence among farmers.

Agriculture Ministers came together on a single platform during the two-day National Kharif Conference held at the PUSA campus here to improve the lives of farmers and strengthen the agricultural sector through coordinated action and effective implementation.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasised that protecting farms is not only about safeguarding agricultural land but also about preserving the environment, the nation, and the future of coming generations.

During the conference, he strongly urged state governments to simplify administrative procedures and remove unnecessary complexities so that farmers can benefit more effectively from government initiatives.

In this context, special emphasis was placed on the balanced use of fertilisers. The Union Minister clarified that the objective is not to completely prohibit chemical fertilisers, but to promote their scientific, balanced, and judicious use. He called for a nationwide awareness movement and an institutional campaign.

Chouhan also emphasised the need to establish coordinated implementation mechanisms, monitoring systems, and dedicated control rooms to ensure that the campaign evolves beyond an appeal and delivers measurable outcomes on the ground.

The conference emerged as a national platform for commitment, coordination, and ground-level execution. Together, the minister charted a common roadmap on critical issues, including Kharif preparedness, self-reliance in pulses and oilseeds, balanced fertiliser use, natural farming, and the proposed ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ campaign.

The National Kharif Conference once again demonstrated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government views agriculture not merely as a question of production, but as a broader national responsibility encompassing soil health, environmental sustainability, nutrition security, farmer prosperity, and the well-being of future generations.

The conference further underscored that Kharif planning will no longer be confined to seasonal preparedness alone. Instead, it will be linked to a broader agenda encompassing self-reliance in pulses and oilseeds, soil health, prudent management of input costs, and sustained enhancement of agricultural productivity.

–IANS

na/vd