Centre and States Must Work as Team for Food Security: Agri...
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized collaborative federalism during the National Rabi Conference 2026, stating that the Centre...
By GT24x7 Reporter··GlobalToday24x7
National Rabi Campaign Focuses on Collaborative Federalism
Addressing the concluding session of the two-day National Rabi Conference 2026 in New Delhi, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan called for seamless coordination between the Union Government and state administrations. Highlighting the critical need to boost agricultural productivity, the Minister emphasized that achieving sustainable food security and improving rural livelihoods requires a unified operational strategy.
Minister Chouhan underscored that agriculture remains the backbone of the Indian economy, noting that policy implementation at the ground level heavily depends on state-level machinery. He urged state agriculture ministers to focus on soil health, seed availability, and modern farming techniques ahead of the upcoming Rabi sowing season.
Financial Sanctions Disbursed Under PM-RKVY
As part of the government's commitment to modernization and infrastructure growth in the farm sector, Minister Chouhan handed over financial sanction letters totaling more than ₹1,200 crore to agriculture ministers from over ten states. The funds were released under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY), an umbrella scheme designed to ensure holistic development in agriculture and allied sectors.
Among the recipient states, Uttar Pradesh received the largest single allocation of ₹601 crore to accelerate agricultural infrastructure and regional farming initiatives. West Bengal was allocated ₹290 crore, while Haryana received ₹198 crore. Additionally, Chhattisgarh was granted ₹181 crore, and Arunachal Pradesh received ₹154 crore to support state-specific agricultural development projects.
Strategic Priorities for the 2026 Rabi Sowing Season
The conference brought together senior officials, agricultural scientists, and state ministers to deliberate on production targets, climate-resilient crop varieties, and supply chain management for the upcoming Rabi crop cycle. Key discussions focused on expanding the cultivation of pulses and oilseeds to reduce import dependency and promote crop diversification.
The Ministry stressed the importance of timely distribution of fertilizers, certified seeds, and institutional credit to farmers. Officials emphasized leveraging digital technology and precision farming tools under PM-RKVY to streamline resource allocation, minimize post-harvest losses, and ensure optimal returns for agricultural producers across all regions.