22 State Agriculture Ministers Come Together in a Historic First for Indian Agriculture

• National Kharif Conference 2026 held at ICAR-IARI (PUSA) campus, New Delhi, 28–29 May 2026, chaired by Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
• Described as a "historic first" because Agriculture Ministers of 22 States assembled on a single platform — collective endorsement of Natural Farming, balanced fertiliser use and a proposed "Khet Bachao Abhiyan".
• UPSC relevance: cooperative federalism in agriculture (a State subject), Kharif policy planning, sustainability transition, and flagship Missions (Pulses, Oilseeds, Cotton, Natural Farming).