‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ reaches 2.712 Crore Citizens; 7.17 Lakh Farmers Sensitised on Balanced Use of Fertiliser
1. At a Glance
- ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ (Save the Farm Campaign) — a nationwide farmer-outreach drive of ICAR under DARE, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, centred on soil health, balanced fertiliser use, and sustainable agriculture [S1][S3].
- Operationalised through awareness camps, training, field demonstrations, Janpratinidhi Sammelans, dialogues with input dealers, FPO/SHG/FIG mobilisation, and mass media [S1].
- Examinable as part of GS-III agriculture (soil health, INM, subsidy reform) and linkable to Soil Health Card and PM-PRANAM [S4][S5].
2. Why in the News
- 22 May 2026 PIB release: campaign reached 2.712 crore citizens via digital outreach; 7.17 lakh farmers directly sensitised; 12,979 camps conducted [S1].
- Launched as a fortnight-long drive 1–15 June 2025 by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at the Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference, Bhubaneswar [S3].
3. Background & Evolution
- Builds on prior soil-health interventions: Soil Health Card Scheme launched 19 Feb 2015 at Suratgarh, Rajasthan by PM Modi [S6].
- Complements PM-PRANAM (PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth), approved by CCEA on 28 June 2023 [S5].
- Driven by macro concerns: rising food inflation, import dependence on fertilisers (DAP, MOP), and diversion of subsidised urea [S3].
4. Core Static Facts
- Implementing body: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare [S1].
- Launched: 1 June 2025 (announced at Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference, Bhubaneswar by Min. Shivraj Singh Chouhan) [S3].
- Objective: Soil-test-based nutrient management; reduce overdependence on chemical fertilisers; promote green manuring, bio-fertilisers, organic sources [S1].
- Key output numbers (as of 22 May 2026) [S1]:
- 12,979 awareness camps/seminars; 7.17 lakh farmers engaged
- 3,145 training programmes; 1,11,509 participants
- 7,928 field demonstrations (green manure, bio-fertilisers, organics)
- 4,916 Janpratinidhi Sammelans (Panchayat / Sarpanch / Zila Parishad)
- 9,609 dialogues with input dealers
- 8,383 FPO/SHG/FIG members engaged
- 53,616 publicity locations (banners/posters/hoardings)
- 1,144 media broadcasts (944 radio + 200 TV/digital)
- 2.712 crore digital/social-media reach
5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis
Economic - Cuts fiscal fertiliser subsidy burden; India’s urea/DAP/MOP import bill driven by Russia-Ukraine and West Asia disruptions [S3]. - PM-PRANAM gives States 50% of subsidy savings as incentive for reduced chemical fertiliser use [S5].
Environmental - Targets NPK imbalance (skewed urea overuse); promotes Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), vermicompost, Nano Urea Plus [S5]. - Reduces nitrate leaching, GHG (N₂O) and groundwater contamination.
Scientific/Technological - Nano Urea/Nano DAP: 8 nano-urea plants targeted by 2025-26, capacity 44 cr bottles ≈ 195 LMT conventional urea; nationwide demo drive in 100 districts [S5]. - Soil-test-based recommendations through Soil Health Cards [S6].
Administrative/Federal - Implementation through ICAR’s KVKs + Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav (MGMG) scientists [S2]. - Convergence with State Agriculture Departments; Janpratinidhi Sammelans mainstream Panchayati Raj (Art. 243G — agriculture as State subject) [S1].
Social - Mobilises FPOs, SHGs, FIGs — pulls women collectives and small/marginal farmers into nutrient-management discourse [S1].
6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)
- June 2025: Khet Bachao Abhiyan fortnight launched nationally [S3].
- 22 May 2026: PIB reports 2.712 cr reach / 7.17 lakh farmers / 12,979 camps [S1].
- ICAR-NIBSM Raipur (May 2026): awareness programme on balanced fertilizer use [S2].
- PM-PRANAM: continued roll-out with State-wise reduction targets [S5].
- Nano Urea Plus national demo campaign across 100 districts (2025-26) [S5].
7. Prelims Hooks
- ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ is run by ICAR under DARE, not by Department of Fertilizers [S1].
- Launched 1 June 2025 at Bhubaneswar (Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference) by Shivraj Singh Chouhan [S3].
- Reach reported on 22 May 2026: 2.712 crore citizens / 7.17 lakh farmers / 12,979 camps [S1].
- PM-PRANAM approved by CCEA on 28 June 2023; incentive = 50% of fertiliser subsidy saved by State [S5].
- PM-PRANAM covers four chemical fertilisers: Urea, DAP, NPK, MOP [S5].
- Soil Health Card Scheme launched 19 Feb 2015, Suratgarh, Rajasthan [S6].
- 8 Nano Urea plants targeted by 2025-26; capacity ≈ 195 LMT conventional urea equivalent [S5].
- Janpratinidhi Sammelans involve Panchayat, Sarpanch, Zila Parishad members [S1].
- Field demonstration focus: green manuring, bio-fertilisers, organic sources [S1].
- Campaign rides on ICAR’s Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav (MGMG) scientist–village programme [S2].
8. Mains Relevance
- GS-III: Agriculture — issues related to direct & indirect farm subsidies; e-technology in aid of farmers; cropping pattern; food security.
- GS-II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections (farmers); government policies and interventions.
- Possible question stems: 1. “Reducing the urea-skewed NPK imbalance is as much a fiscal as an ecological imperative. Discuss in the light of PM-PRANAM and ICAR’s Khet Bachao Abhiyan.” 2. “Examine how soil-test-based nutrient management can simultaneously address the fertiliser subsidy burden and long-term soil fertility.” 3. “Evaluate the role of FPOs, KVKs and Panchayati Raj institutions in operationalising sustainable agriculture campaigns.”
9. Related Topics to Study Next
- Soil Health Card Scheme (2015) — direct predecessor on soil testing [S6].
- PM-PRANAM (2023) — subsidy-saving incentive to States [S5].
- Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) regime — pricing of P&K fertilisers [S5].
- Nano Urea / Nano DAP — IFFCO innovation, alternative fertilisers [S5].
- Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) & National Mission on Natural Farming.
- FPO Scheme (10,000 FPOs) — delivery channel used by the Abhiyan [S1].
- Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav (MGMG) — ICAR scientist outreach mechanism [S2].
- Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (2025) — companion ICAR campaign [S7].
10. Common Errors / Trap Areas
- Wrong ministry: It is Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (ICAR/DARE), NOT Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers [S1].
- Confusion with “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” or “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” — different ministries and objectives.
- Confusing with Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (also ICAR, broader agri-extension) — Khet Bachao specifically targets balanced fertiliser use [S7].
- PM-PRANAM mis-attribution: it is under Department of Fertilizers, while Khet Bachao is under DARE/ICAR [S5].
- Soil Health Card launch year is 2015 (Suratgarh) — not 2014 or Gujarat [S6].
11. Sources
- [S1] ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ reaches 2.712 Crore Citizens — PIB release PRID 2264122, 22 May 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2264122 — (tier 1)
- [S2] ICAR-NIBSM Awareness Programme on Balanced Use of Fertilizers, Raipur — PIB PRID 2264224 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2264224 — (tier 1)
- [S3] Centre to launch ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ — Eastern Regional Agriculture Conference, Bhubaneswar (corroborative) — https://sambadenglish.com/latest-news/centre-to-launch-khet-bachao-abhiyan-for-sustainable-agriculture-union-minister-chouhan-at-eastern-regional-agriculture-conference-11851883 — (tier 4)
- [S4] Government Promotes Balanced Use of Fertilizers — PIB PRID 2244397 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2244397 — (tier 1)
- [S5] PM-PRANAM Scheme — PIB PRID 2239623 / 2246007 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2239623 ; https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2246007 — (tier 1)
- [S6] Soil Health Card Scheme launch (Suratgarh, 19 Feb 2015) — PIB relid 115589 — https://www.pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=115589 — (tier 1)
- [S7] Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan launch at ICAR-CIFA Bhubaneswar — PIB PRID 2132405 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2132405 — (tier 1)
