National Conference on Agriculture 2024 Sets Ambitious Targets for Rabi Season, Focuses on Innovation and Collaboration

The Union Minister of Agriculture, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, inaugurated the National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi Campaign 2024 at NASC Complex, New Delhi, with an aim to review the performance of crops during the preceding season and set crop-wise targets for the upcoming Rabi season. This annual conference brings together key stakeholders from across the agricultural sector, including state representatives, researchers, and policymakers, to discuss strategies for enhancing crop production, implementing cutting-edge technologies, and ensuring the smooth supply of essential agricultural inputs.

In his opening address, Minister Chouhan emphasized the urgent need for India to transition toward organic and natural farming methods. He stressed the importance of increasing per hectare yield while reducing the cost of production, which would ensure fair prices for farmers. To this end, a committee has been set up to address transportation costs and bridge the gap between procurement and sale prices. Minister Chouhan also urged states to collaborate closely with the central government, leveraging agro-climatic conditions to boost production and position India as a global food basket. The national food grain production target for 2024-25 was set at 341.55 million tonnes.

Ramnath Thakur, Minister of State for Agriculture, highlighted the need for urgent state-level action to support farmers who have been affected by recent floods and cyclones. He also called for senior officers and researchers to assess the quality of agricultural inputs available in the market to ensure that farmers are provided with high-quality resources. The Minister of State (Agriculture), Bhagirath Choudhary, expressed gratitude to research institutions for their contributions to making India self-reliant in the production of pulses and oilseeds.

The conference featured a series of interactive sessions with esteemed panelists from state governments and agricultural organizations. Key topics included enhancing the productivity of oilseeds and pulses, the implementation of digital platforms like the National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS) and the Integrated Pesticide Management System (IPMS), and the utilization of the Seed Authentication, Traceability & Holistic Inventory (SATHI) portal. The discussions underscored the importance of conducting research on high-yielding seed varieties and introducing comprehensive mechanization in the cultivation of pulses and oilseeds.

One of the major focus areas was boosting oilseed production to meet the growing demand for edible oil. The government's ambitious goal is to increase oilseed production from 39.2 MMT in 2022-23 to 69.7 MMT by 2030-31, expanding the cultivation area from 29 million hectares to 33 million hectares. This would involve improving yield rates from 1,353 kg/ha to 2,112 kg/ha through the use of advanced seed varieties and mechanization.

The conference also showcased several technological advancements aimed at ensuring the quality of agricultural inputs and implementing proactive pest management strategies. The NPSS provides real-time monitoring of pest and disease infestations, helping farmers protect their yields. Similarly, the IPMS tackles issues such as the misbranding of pesticides and the shortage of supply by offering a faceless, traceable quality assurance system powered by QR codes. The SATHI portal provides a comprehensive solution for seed production, inspection, processing, and distribution.

In discussions on digital agriculture, the panelists explored the recently approved Digital Agriculture Mission, an initiative aimed at fostering farmer-centric solutions using integrated registries and digital public infrastructure (DPI) platforms like the Krishi Decision Support System. These efforts are geared toward improving decision-making and providing tailored advisories to farmers, empowering them to maximize productivity.

The conference concluded with an interactive session between state ministers and senior government officials, during which state representatives highlighted issues affecting their farmers. Topics ranged from mechanization of oilseed and pulse cultivation to the need for private-sector involvement in agricultural research. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, the National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi Campaign 2024 laid the groundwork for actionable strategies to enhance agricultural productivity and ensure a successful Rabi season ahead.