Chouhan was addressing the Platinum Jubilee Conference of Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (AERC) in Pune today. 

Chouhan said that it is the need of the hour that India to move towards natural farming and have to take this forward with full potentials. “ This will add value to our production. The government is continuously working to increase the storage capacity of farmers. Taking a step forward in this direction, the Central Government is working on a new scheme to deliver the farmers’ products to distance places. Under this, the state and central governments are jointly working out plans to enable farmers to transport their products to other states and markets” he said.

River-linking

Minister said that the launch of a special river-linking project under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the dual challenges of floods and droughts affecting various parts of the country. The initiative aims to balance water resources by benefiting areas prone to heavy rainfall and those facing water scarcity.

Speaking on the need for innovative solutions in agriculture, Chouhan highlighted the importance of developing water-efficient irrigation technologies to maximize productivity with minimal water use. He also stressed reducing production costs to enhance the agricultural sector’s sustainability and competitiveness.

Chouhan noted that the government provided 1.94 metric tonnes of subsidies to farmers last year as part of its commitment to supporting the farming community. To address the immediate financial needs of farmers and eliminate dependence on moneylenders, the government has also expanded access to Kisan Credit Cards, ensuring farmers receive timely financial assistance.