New Delhi, March 19: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said the government has expedited long-pending irrigation and river-linking projects while undertaking structural reforms in agriculture aimed at improving farmer incomes and rural productivity.
Replying to a discussion in the Lok Sabha on the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Chouhan said several major irrigation projects that remained incomplete for years have been fast-tracked under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana.
He stated that out of 140 major irrigation projects, 99 had remained stalled earlier, and the government has now prioritised their completion, with work progressing to bring irrigation coverage to about 2.7 million hectares of additional farmland.
The minister also said river-linking initiatives, including the Ken–Betwa project connecting parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, are being advanced to address issues of floods and droughts.
Chouhan said the government is working to ensure the availability of quality seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides to farmers. He informed the House that new legislation on seeds and pesticides is being prepared to regulate standards and prevent the sale of substandard products.
He added that strict approval mechanisms have been introduced for bio-stimulants, with only those products cleared after multiple scientific trials being allowed in the market.
Highlighting digitisation efforts, the minister said nearly 9 crore farmer IDs have been created under the Digital Agriculture Mission. These digital profiles are expected to streamline access to institutional credit and improve delivery of government schemes.
He also referred to an AI-based platform, “Bharat Vistaar,” which will enable farmers to seek real-time advisory services by sharing crop images or queries, with responses provided in local languages.
Chouhan said the government is promoting natural farming to address concerns over soil health and sustainability. The initiative aims to reach one crore farmers, provide training to 18 lakh farmers, and expand natural farming practices to around 75 lakh hectares.
He added that the Centre is working with states to develop region-specific agricultural plans based on local conditions and crop suitability.
The minister said government interventions, including MSP operations and direct benefit transfers, are aimed at ensuring income support and reducing vulnerabilities faced by farmers.
He maintained that the focus is on improving farm productivity, strengthening rural economies, and advancing the goal of a self-reliant agricultural sector.
