Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on June 20, 2025, addressed a national seminar in Mumbai on the theme ‘Prosperity through Cooperatives’, aligning with the United Nations’ declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives. The seminar aimed to spotlight the transformative role of cooperatives in India’s development journey and foster dialogue among stakeholders for charting a roadmap for the sector's future growth.
In his address, Chouhan emphasized that cooperatives are “deeply rooted in India’s soil,” noting that the spirit of cooperation has been an integral part of Indian society since ancient times. Turning to agriculture, he said the sector continues to be the backbone of the Indian economy, contributing 18% to GDP and supporting nearly 46% of the population.
He highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has seen a 44% rise in foodgrain production over the past eleven years. “The small farmer remains at the centre of our policies,” he said.
Chouhan outlined a comprehensive roadmap for agricultural prosperity that includes increasing per hectare productivity, lowering production costs, ensuring fair prices for produce, providing compensation for crop loss, and diversifying crops. He also stressed the importance of preserving soil health for future generations by limiting the use of chemical fertilizers and tailoring strategies to India's agrarian realities, especially small landholdings.
He also spoke about the recently launched ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’, aimed at translating scientific research into grassroots practice. Under the campaign, 2,170 teams of agricultural scientists visited villages to engage with farmers, share research-backed farming techniques, and understand their practical issues.
Chouhan underlined that this dialogue between scientists and farmers will continue, with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) scientists now expected to visit farms three days a week. “Agricultural policy cannot be formulated sitting in Delhi’s Krishi Bhavan alone,” he said.
The minister flagged the issue of poor-quality seeds and pesticides as one of the most serious concerns uncovered during the campaign and announced that the Centre is preparing strict legislation to punish those producing and selling substandard agricultural inputs.
Chouhan also detailed a revamped Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for Tomato, Onion, and Potato (TOP) crops. He said that if farmers transport their produce to another state offering better prices, the Central Government will cover the operational transportation costs. The goal, he emphasized, is to ensure fair returns for farmers while keeping prices affordable for consumers.
The minister added that record levels of pulses and oilseeds have been procured, and more efforts are underway to boost soybean and oilseed production, including financial support for storage infrastructure. He concluded by announcing upcoming nationwide meetings with ICAR scientists and stakeholders on June 24, followed by sessions on soybean in Indore (June 26), cotton in Gujarat (June 27), and sugarcane in Uttar Pradesh, to develop targeted solutions for each crop.
