Khet Bachao Abhiyan Promotes Sustainable Farming

Khet Bachao Abhiyan to Promote Sustainable Farming

Why in the News ?

The Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the month-long Khet Bachao Abhiyan from Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh, to encourage the balanced use of fertilisers, improve farmer awareness, ensure effective delivery of agricultural schemes across villages, and promote a pollution free environment through sustainable agricultural practices.

Objectives and Key Features of Khet Bachao Abhiyan

• The Khet Bachao Abhiyan will run from June 1 to June 30 across the country.
• The campaign aims to promote the judicious and balanced use of fertilisers to maintain soil health and improve agricultural productivity while adhering to environmental impact assessment guidelines for sustainable farming.
• It will provide timely guidance to farmers regarding weather-related risks and crop management practices, ensuring compliance with environmental clearances for agricultural activities.
• Special emphasis has been placed on ensuring active participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions and local communities in environmental democracy.
• The initiative seeks to improve outreach and ensure that government agricultural benefits directly reach villages while preventing ex post facto violations of environmental regulations.

Implementation Strategy and Government Outreach

• The Agriculture Minister held discussions with the Chief Ministers of all States and sought their cooperation in the campaign.
• He appealed to Union Ministers, Members of Parliament, and public representatives to actively participate and spread awareness about sustainable practices and the polluter pays principle in agriculture.
• Virtual interactions were conducted with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), ICAR institutes, agricultural universities, and senior officials to discuss environmental clearance requirements and EIA notification compliance for agricultural projects.
• District-level programmes are being planned in advance to ensure smooth execution and effective coordination, particularly in coastal regulation zone areas where farming practices require special attention.
• Public awareness and extensive information dissemination campaigns have been identified as key components of the initiative to prevent post facto environmental violations.