India to become global food basket, says union agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
(Press Release) Bengaluru: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday announced that India is being actively positioned to become the world’s food basket. Speaking at the ICAR-IIHR campus in Bengaluru during the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, the Minister underscored the Centre’s commitment to transforming the agricultural landscape of the country.
Chouhan emphasized that India’s food production potential extends beyond feeding its 145 crore citizens. A collaborative roadmap will be drawn up with support from State Governments, Agricultural Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), farmers, and scientists to realize this ambitious vision. The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mission of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, and the campaign is aptly themed “Viksit Agricultural India.”
A major component of the Abhiyan is the “Lab to Land” initiative, under which over 16,000 scientists are working closely with farmers nationwide to transfer scientific knowledge and technological solutions. In just ten days, 1,896 teams have reached out to nearly nine lakh farmers across 8,188 villages, strengthening the link between research and grassroots agriculture.
In Karnataka alone, more than 70 interdisciplinary teams, comprising scientists and officials from agriculture and allied sectors, have been actively engaging with farmers on their fields. So far, 639 such teams have visited 2,495 villages, interacting with 2,77,264 farmers and collecting critical feedback to shape demand-driven, problem-solving agricultural research programs.
Highlighting the campaign’s vision of “One Nation, One Agriculture, One Team,” the Minister assured farmers of the government’s full support in securing fair prices. He announced that the Centre would bear transportation costs under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), easing market access and reducing farmers’ burden.
Chouhan also issued a strict warning against the sale of adulterated pesticides, promising severe action against offenders to safeguard the interests of farmers and the integrity of agricultural practices.
At the event, the Minister felicitated seven exemplary farmers from Karnataka, Ratnamma, Gopal Gowda, Padmini Gowda, H.K. Raghu, Mangalamma, Mahesh H.N., and Sreenivas, or their outstanding contributions to agriculture and rural development.
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Two held for 'firing' at BJP leader's house in Bengal
Kolkata (PTI): A day before the counting of votes for the West Bengal assembly elections, two persons were arrested on Sunday for allegedly being involved in a firing incident outside the residence of a BJP leader in North 24 Parganas district, police said.
BJP leader Kundan Singh lodged a police complaint, alleging that a few gunmen fired at his house in the Noapara constituency around Saturday midnight.
Based on the CCTV footage, the two accused were apprehended, a senior officer said.
BJP's Noapara candidate Arjun Singh, in a post on social media, claimed that around 12.05 am, two armed miscreants arrived on a motorcycle at the residence of Kundan Singh, a BJP functionary and secretary of the Barrackpore organisational district, with an "intent to kill him".
According to the BJP leader, the accused are residents of Garulia and are known criminals.
Their names as offenders had been submitted to the Election Commission, he said.
The police officer did not specify whether the two arrested persons were the same individuals named by Arjun Singh.
According to the complaint, one round of firing took place outside Kundan Singh's house, triggering panic in the area.
The BJP candidate also questioned the role of the police, claiming that one of the accused had been detained by the police on the polling day but was later released in the evening.
The Noapara assembly seat went to the polls on April 29.
Several BJP leaders alleged that attempts were being made to create an atmosphere of fear ahead of the counting and weaken the organisation of the opposition parties.
The counting of votes will take place on May 4. Polling for the West Bengal assembly elections was held on April 23 and April 29.
The BJP urged the Election Commission to intervene immediately to ensure peaceful counting.
TMC candidate Somnath Shyam rubbished Arjun Singh’s allegation, claiming that the BJP nominee had orchestrated the firing incident to divert attention from imminent defeat.
“Arjun Singh knows all the gangsters in the Barrackpore belt. Everyone knows about his links with the underworld. Let the police investigate the incident,” Shyam said.
