New Delhi: The central government has set sugarcane production targets of 467 million tonnes for the 2025 kharif season—an increase from last year’s output of 436.08 million tonnes, reports The Hindu BusinessLine.
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the new target on Thursday while launching the ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’, a two-week national campaign aimed at reaching around 2 crore farmers. The campaign, starting May 29, will help farmers strengthen their connection with agricultural research and promote awareness of new practices, including climate-resilient seeds and available government support schemes.
Chouhan assured that the Ministry of Fertilizers has confirmed adequate availability of fertilizers for the upcoming season. However, he urged the Fertilizer Secretary to demonstrate the effectiveness of nano-urea and nano-DAP in the field, encouraging a shift away from conventional fertilizers.
Chouhan also stated that the Centre is preparing to amend the Seeds Act, 1966, to curb the sale of fake seeds and protect farmers. A draft bill is being developed, and feedback from the states will be incorporated before finalization.
Under the upcoming farmer outreach campaign, nearly 2,000 teams—each consisting of ICAR scientists, local agricultural officials, and Krishi Vigyan Kendra staff—will hold meetings across all districts. Each team will conduct three meetings per day, aiming to reach 10–12 lakh farmers daily. Sessions will include discussions on climate-resilient seeds, fertilizer availability, monsoon forecasts, and other government initiatives.
Chouhan also highlighted the wide gap in crop yields between and within states, urging local governments to address these disparities seriously.
