India ​prepared for ​kharif ​season ​amid ​global ​uncertainty, ​says ​agriculture ​minister

Speaking at the National Kharif Agriculture Conference in New Delhi, Chouhan said the government was approaching agriculture as a “national mission” amid rising global uncertainty driven by conflicts, trade disruptions and extreme weather events.

“The country is fully prepared for the kharif season,” Chouhan told reporters after meetings with state agriculture ministers, scientists, agricultural universities and farm officials.

He said India has arranged around 192 lakh quintals of quality seeds against an estimated requirement of 173 lakh quintals for the kharif season, providing an 11% surplus ahead of sowing operations.

The Centre has also created a national seed reserve of 1.74 lakh quintals to address possible disruptions caused by delayed monsoon rains, dry spells or resowing requirements.

India’s kharif season, heavily dependent on the southwest monsoon, is crucial for crops such as rice, pulses, cotton and oilseeds. Any disruption in production can affect food inflation and rural incomes in the world’s most populous country.

Chouhan said the Centre and states had jointly prepared a roadmap focusing on seeds, fertilisers, agricultural credit, crop insurance and quality control to minimise risks during the monsoon season.

The minister said more than 9.76 crore farmer IDs had already been created to streamline delivery of subsidies and government schemes while improving transparency in fertiliser distribution and other support systems.

The government will also launch a nationwide “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” campaign from June 1 to June 30 to promote balanced fertiliser use, natural farming practices and awareness of agricultural schemes at the village level.

Chouhan said the government planned to prepare separate agricultural roadmaps for each state based on soil conditions, climate patterns and crop suitability to make farming more region-specific and resilient.

He also acknowledged concerns over fake pesticides, delays in crop insurance settlements and uneven agricultural credit access, particularly in eastern India.

The minister said a provision for 12% interest on delayed insurance compensation would apply after procedural formalities are completed, while stricter monitoring of substandard agricultural inputs would be introduced.