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Chouhan unveils roadmap for major reforms at Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela
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Monday, 02 March, 2026, 15 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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The three-day National Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela was formally inaugurated by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI) campus in Pusa, Delhi, with a renewed focus on transforming Indian farming towards ‘Viksit Krishi (Developed Agriculture) – Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India)’.
In his keynote address, Chouhan unveiled a wide-ranging reform roadmap designed to ensure greater transparency, time-bound delivery, and accountability across key agricultural processes. He underlined that holding back farmers’ payments will no longer be tolerated, warning that any agency or state government delaying rightful dues will face a 12% interest penalty on withheld amounts.
Farmers were placed at the centre of the programme, with symbolic gestures such as positioning them in the front row and the minister personally assisting a differently-abled farmer to interact with dignitaries. Seven outstanding farmers were also honoured with the IARI Krishi Adhyeta Awards, reinforcing the ‘Farmers First’ ethos.
Among the key reforms outlined, the minister stressed the need for Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to evolve into strong district-level agricultural reform command centres, effectively bridging the gap between research labs and field practices. He urged these centres to proactively disseminate new varieties, successful farming models and innovative technologies to villages.
Addressing credit concerns, Chouhan highlighted that 75% of small farmers benefit from Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans at a 4% effective interest rate, but stressed that loan disbursals must be timely to prevent dependency on informal lenders.
He also announced plans to simplify pesticide licensing, reduce procedural delays and bring quality products to farmers faster. On procurement, the minister advocated for completing Minimum Support Price (MSP) purchases within one month instead of the current three-month window, ensuring farmers receive fair pricing without storage stresses.
Chouhan further proposed transferring the Rs 2 lakh crore fertiliser subsidy directly to farmers’ accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to empower them with better purchasing choices, and announced the resumption of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan from April to expand on-field scientific support ahead of the kharif season.
Describing the mela as a national ‘Kumbh’ of farmers, the minister said the event is more than an exhibition it’s a platform where science meets farming to drive India’s agricultural revolution forward.
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