Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, visited the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutions in Bengaluru today. During his visit, he held a comprehensive review meeting and engaged directly with farmers, animal husbandry professionals, scientists, startup entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders.
Addressing the gathering, the minister asserted that India will no longer rely on the mercy of others. He stressed that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is committed to safeguarding the interests of farmers and is developing an integrated farming model aimed at increasing their income.
Highlighting the dangers of excessive pesticide use, Chouhan cautioned that such chemicals not only harm beneficial insects but also damage soil health and pose risks to human health. He advocated for reducing pesticide use by leveraging biological alternatives and promoting sustainable practices.
The minister further emphasized that enhancing farmers’ livelihoods requires moving beyond the cultivation of staple crops such as wheat, rice, and sugarcane. He called for a shift toward integrated farming that includes pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits, flowers, medicinal plants, and animal husbandry. Chouhan pointed out that disease outbreaks remain a major challenge in livestock farming and underscored the importance of timely disease detection and prevention.
He shared that using data analysis, the government is now able to predict potential disease outbreaks with up to 95% accuracy. This enables state governments to take proactive steps such as preemptive vaccinations, significantly reducing disease spread. He credited such initiatives for the effective control of diseases like foot-and-mouth disease in livestock.
During his visit, Chouhan also reviewed the work of the ICAR’s National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (NIVEDI). He reiterated that India, under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, stands firm in making sovereign decisions and will not compromise on the interests of its farmers and livestock keepers. “Today’s India speaks eye-to-eye. No external pressure will make us waver,” he declared, reaffirming the government’s commitment to the welfare of farmers, herders, and the rural economy.
The Union Minister also visited the National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (NBAIR), where he reviewed the institute’s work in biological pest control. He observed technology demonstrations and held discussions with scientists, farmers, students, and entrepreneurs. Chouhan lauded NBAIR’s contributions to eco-friendly pest management and called for the accelerated development and dissemination of farmer-friendly technologies, especially targeting smallholders.
Expressing concern over the unchecked use of chemical pesticides and the emergence of pests such as the pink bollworm in Bt cotton, the minister emphasized the need for sustainable and scientific approaches to pest control.
