Union Agriculture Minister, Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Friday, August 29, 2025, visited Bengaluru where he reviewed the activities of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutes and directly interacted with farmers, livestock rearers, startup entrepreneurs, scientists and other stakeholders. During his visit, he stressed that the government is committed to safeguarding farmers’ interests, improving their income and ensuring that India remains self-reliant in agriculture and livestock production.
Chauhan highlighted the importance of integrated farming, saying that traditional dependence on only one or two crops such as wheat, rice or sugarcane will not be enough to secure farmers’ livelihoods. Instead, farmers should adopt diversified practices like cultivating pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits, flowers and medicinal plants alongside animal husbandry.
He pointed out that animal husbandry faces the serious challenge of diseases, which often spread quickly and cause huge losses. To tackle this, he said that ICAR’s National Animal Epidemiology and Informatics Institute is working on disease forecasting models that are almost 90% accurate, enabling governments to initiate vaccination campaigns in advance. This, he said, has already helped in controlling diseases such as foot and mouth disease to a large extent.
The minister also took a detailed review of ICAR’s National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (NBAIR), which is developing biological pest control technologies. While appreciating their contribution, he warned against the indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides that harm beneficial insects, soil health and humans.
He stressed the need for wider adoption of eco-friendly pest management practices, particularly in crops like Bt cotton where pests such as pink bollworm are emerging as major threats. He called for farmer-friendly technologies to be developed and disseminated quickly to benefit small and marginal farmers.
During his visit, Chauhan interacted with farmers on the ground and encouraged them to pursue mixed farming models that combine crops like coconut, papaya, banana and ginger. At one such farm, a farmer named Ram introduced him to a special variety of banana, ‘Nanjangud Rasabale’, which is known for its unique taste and low sugar content, making it suitable even for diabetic patients.
Expressing concern that this variety has recently been threatened by a virus, Chauhan announced that a special team of agricultural scientists will soon be deployed to protect it. He said that preserving this traditional variety is important not just for farmers’ income but also for consumers who value its health benefits.
Chauhan underlined that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is moving forward rapidly and is no longer dependent on external pressures or compromises. He said that no power in the world can dictate terms to India and that the government will never compromise on the interests of farmers, livestock keepers, fishermen and rural communities. He credited the Prime Minister for taking bold decisions that protect national interests and farmers’ welfare, while assuring that both crops and cattle will remain central to India’s agricultural growth.
Chauhan said the government aims to make farming more sustainable, profitable and resilient against challenges like climate change, pests and animal diseases by combining modern scientific approaches with traditional practices. He concluded that the efforts of ICAR institutes, supported by government initiatives, will create a strong foundation for India’s self-reliant and farmer-friendly agricultural future.
