“I will return. Because I am a farmer and a servant of farmers.Our mission is to transform their lives and ensure profit and pride in farming.”-Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

8th June 2025-PHOTOS  BY P.K.ANANTH KUMAR

As part of the ongoing Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan and Pre-Kharif Campaign,  Shivraj Singh Chouhan,   Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, visited the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (ICAR-IIHR), Bengaluru. His visit marked a pivotal moment in reinforcing the Government’s commitment to advancing Indian agriculture through sustainability, innovation, and a farmer-centric approach, aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Pre-Visit Field and Facility Tour- Before arriving at ICAR-IIHR campus, the Minister toured the fields of progressive farmers cultivating high-value crops like dragon fruit (Kamalam) and tomatoes, gaining firsthand insight into the innovations and successes at the grassroots level. He praised these farmers for their entrepreneurship and profitable cultivation models that inspire income security.

The Minister also visited the ICAR-IIHR Nursery, where lakhs of quality planting materials are produced and distributed to farmers, ensuring access to superior planting stock that can significantly enhance crop yields and resilience.

Further, Chouhan explored the BESST-Hort Incubation Centre located on the ICAR-IIHR campus. This innovative facility supports young entrepreneurs and farmers who lack space, machinery, or technological expertise by providing shared resources to process their produce and access markets effectively. The incubation centre exemplifies the institution’s commitment to fostering agribusiness and rural enterprise development.

Minister’s Address: Farmer-Centric Vision and Commitment- In his address to over 500 farmers, scientists, and staff,  Chouhan emphasized the critical role farmers play in ensuring national food security and economic prosperity. With conviction, he declared, “I am a farmer first,” underscoring his dedication to serve the farming community as a sevak rather than a politician. This humility and focus set the tone for the day’s events. He lauded the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship displayed by farmers across India and urged them to embrace diversification, sustainable practices, and technology-driven farming. “India must become the world’s food basket,” he stressed, calling for empowered farmers supported by strong institutions and enabling policies.

Felicitation of Progressive Farmers-Highlighting real-world success stories, the Minister felicitated several progressive farmers who exemplify agricultural innovation and entrepreneurship. These farmers represent the navachar kranti—innovative revolutions that are driving India’s agrarian resurgence.

Bridging Lab to Land: The Real-Time Impact of Science-Chouhan acknowledged the crucial role of ICAR-IIHR and other ICAR institutions in translating scientific research into practical farming solutions. The Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan initiative is enabling over 16,000 scientists to collaborate closely with farmers, fostering a “One Nation, One Agriculture, One Team” ethos.This integration accelerates the adoption of new technologies and practices, ensuring that scientific advancements reach fields in real time, enhancing productivity and sustainability.

Success Stories and Agricultural Transformation-The Minister shared inspiring examples such as Kamalam (Dragon Fruit) cultivation, where farmers have achieved profits as high as ₹7 lakh per acre over three years, moving away from distress sales toward financial security. He stressed the importance of crop suitability assessments, sustainable fertilizer use, pest management (notably control of stem borers in sugarcane), and value addition through processing as cornerstones of India’s agricultural transformation.

He further highlighted Karnataka’s horticultural potential, praising Bengaluru’s villages as beacons of horticultural prosperity poised to drive export-led growth. From Shimoga’s arecanut and pepper cultivation to millet farming and bee-based products, Chouhan called for a shift beyond traditional farming towards crop diversity and enhanced processing.

Exhibition of Horticultural Excellence-As part of his visit, the Minister inaugurated a vibrant exhibition at ICAR-IIHR showcasing the latest varieties of mango, flowers, vegetables, and medicinal plants. The exhibition highlighted cutting-edge research outputs of ICAR-IIHR and the Bengaluru based ICAR institutes on Climate-resilient crop varieties, post-harvest handling and technologies, Integrated pest and disease management strategies, Innovations in apiculture and mushroom cultivation, Development of medicinal and aromatic plants. These exhibits demonstrated the robust lab-to-land connectivity and technological progress driven by institutes under the umbrella of ICAR.

Distinguished Guests and Institutional Strength-The programme was graced by several dignitaries, including: Dr. K. Sudhakar, Member of Parliament (Chikkaballapur), S. R. Vishwanath, MLA (Yelahanka), Dr. Sanjay Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Sciences), ICAR, Dr. Raghavendra Bhatta, Deputy Director General (Animal Sciences), ICAR, Dr. Venkata Subramaniam, Director, ICAR-ATARI. Dr. Tusa Kanti Behera, Director, ICAR-IIHR hosted the programme. Their presence underlined the collaborative effort among policymakers, research institutions, and farmers to realize agricultural progress.

Towards a Food-Secure and Prosperous India-Chouhan emphasized agriculture’s dual significance: though it accounts for around 18% of India’s GDP, it sustains nearly 50% of the population. With a recent Q4 growth rate of 5.41%, agriculture is primed for rapid advancement through innovation and government support. He called for cooperative efforts between state governments, ICAR, agricultural departments, and farmers to build an enabling ecosystem. “Our farmers have the capability; we must provide the environment for their success,” he urged.

Concluding on a hopeful and determined note, the Minister promised, “I will return. Because I am a farmer—and a servant of farmers. Our mission is to transform their lives and ensure profit and pride in farming.”

The visit and programme at ICAR-IIHR Bengaluru was a compelling demonstration of India’s renewed agricultural spirit—rooted in tradition, empowered by science, and driven by visionary leadership. It reinforced the collective resolve to achieve Viksit Krishi for Samruddh Bharat, contributing significantly to the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.