Centre Prepares Nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan to Promote Scientific Farming and Protect Soil Health

The Government of India is preparing to conduct a nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan from October 22 to November 30, 2026, to promote scientific farming, protect soil fertility and encourage the efficient use of agricultural resources. The campaign will bring together farmers, agricultural scientists, state governments and district administrations to improve agricultural productivity through sustainable cultivation practices.

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviewed preparations for the campaign through a virtual meeting attended by Minister of State Bhagirath Choudhary and agriculture ministers from several states. The discussions focused on implementation strategies, farmer participation and coordination between different levels of administration.

Nationwide Campaign to Strengthen Scientific Agriculture

The Khet Bachao Abhiyan seeks to help farmers adopt modern agricultural techniques while maintaining the long-term productivity of their land. The initiative will focus particularly on improving soil health, encouraging balanced fertiliser application and reducing the unnecessary consumption of agricultural inputs.

A major objective is to promote scientific nutrient management based on soil conditions and crop requirements. Excessive or unbalanced fertiliser application can increase cultivation costs, affect soil fertility and reduce the efficiency of agricultural inputs. The campaign will encourage farmers to make informed decisions about fertiliser use and adopt practices that protect agricultural resources.

The initiative will also promote awareness of government schemes, agricultural technologies and sustainable farming methods. By connecting farmers with scientific institutions and agricultural experts, the government aims to improve the practical application of research at the farm level.

Agricultural Scientists and District Administrations to Play Key Roles

During the review meeting, Chouhan emphasised the importance of active participation by farmers, agricultural scientists and district administrations. He directed officials to complete preparations before the campaign begins and ensure that activities deliver tangible benefits to farming communities.

Agriculture ministers from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Assam, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar and Maharashtra participated in the discussions.

The minister instructed District Collectors to coordinate campaign activities and facilitate their effective implementation. He also directed the appointment of nodal officers at state and district levels to strengthen administrative coordination.

The involvement of agricultural scientists will help farmers understand improved cultivation practices, efficient nutrient management and methods suited to local agricultural conditions.

Building on the Earlier Khet Bachao Abhiyan

The upcoming campaign builds on the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan conducted in June 2026, which focused on balanced fertiliser use, soil conservation and sustainable agriculture.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the earlier campaign had reached more than 9.42 lakh farmers by June 4, 2026, through awareness programmes, agricultural training and field demonstrations.

The initiative conducted 17,834 awareness programmes involving nearly 6.98 lakh farmers, alongside thousands of training sessions and agricultural demonstrations.

The government subsequently announced its intention to develop Khet Bachao Abhiyan into a sustained national effort to improve soil management and encourage environmentally responsible farming.

The October–November campaign represents another phase of this initiative, with greater emphasis on coordinated implementation across states.

Reducing Cultivation Costs Through Balanced Fertiliser Use

One of the central objectives of Khet Bachao Abhiyan is to encourage farmers to apply fertilisers according to actual crop requirements rather than relying on excessive or indiscriminate application.

Balanced fertilisation helps maintain soil nutrient levels, improves the efficiency of agricultural inputs and can reduce unnecessary expenditure. Soil testing and scientific recommendations also enable farmers to identify nutrient deficiencies and select suitable fertilisers.

The initiative complements wider government efforts to promote organic inputs, green manure, sustainable soil management and responsible agricultural resource utilisation.

Improving soil fertility is particularly important for maintaining agricultural productivity over successive cropping seasons. Scientific nutrient management can help farmers protect their land while improving the economic efficiency of cultivation.

Strengthening Farmer Awareness and Agricultural Productivity

The Khet Bachao Abhiyan will also serve as a platform for increasing awareness of agricultural technologies and government welfare programmes. Direct interaction between farmers, agricultural scientists and administrative officials can help improve access to practical information and institutional support.

The campaign is expected to encourage greater adoption of locally suitable cultivation practices and promote cooperation between agricultural research institutions and farming communities.

By integrating soil conservation, scientific fertiliser management and farmer education, the government seeks to strengthen the foundations of sustainable agricultural development.

The nationwide campaign from October 22 to November 30 will further advance India’s efforts to protect soil health, improve agricultural productivity and support the long-term prosperity of its farmers.

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References

1. News on AIR — October 18, 2026: Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Reviews Preparations for Khet Bachao Abhiyan
2. Press Information Bureau — October 12, 2026: Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana Completes One Year
3. Press Information Bureau — June 5, 2026: More Than 9.42 Lakh Farmers Join Khet Bachao Abhiyan
4. Press Information Bureau — June 1, 2026: Union Agriculture Minister Launches Nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan

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