Kheti Bachao Abhiyaan 2026: Saving Farms is important, But Securing Farmers Is Essential.

"Khet Bachao Abhiyan" (1–30 June 2026) reflects an important shift in India's agricultural policy—from merely increasing production to improving soil health, reducing input costs, promoting balanced fertiliser use, and providing weather-based advisories to farmers. The campaign's focus on "Less Fertiliser, Right Fertiliser, Right Advice" is relevant because India's agriculture faces growing challenges from soil degradation, climate variability, rising cultivation costs, and declining resource-use efficiency. However, the real question is not whether we launch another campaign. The real question is: Will it create measurable change at the farm level? India has implemented numerous schemes over the years—PM-KISAN, Kisan Credit Card, Soil Health Card, crop insurance, irrigation programs, FPO promotion, and digital agriculture initiatives. Many have delivered benefits, but persistent structural challenges continue to affect farmers. According to NABARD's NAFIS 2021-22 survey, rural household incomes have improved over time, indicating that government interventions and financial inclusion efforts are making a difference. Yet indebtedness, climate risks, and income instability remain major concerns for a large section of farming households. The ground reality is that farmer distress is not driven by fertiliser use alone. It is linked to a combination of factors: ▪️Small and fragmented landholdings ▪️High production costs and debt burden ▪️Climate shocks and weather uncertainty ▪️Weak market linkages and price volatility ▪️Post-harvest losses and inadequate storage infrastructure ▪️Limited value addition and processing opportunities ▪️Uneven access to technology, irrigation, and advisory services Recent NCRB data show that over 10,500 people associated with the farming sector died by suicide in 2024, reminding us that agricultural growth and farmer well-being are not always the same thing. Therefore, campaigns such as Khet Bachao Abhiyan should be viewed as one part of the solution—not the entire solution. The true success of this campaign will not be measured by the number of meetings conducted or advisories issued. It will be measured by whether it can help farmers: ✔️ Reduce cultivation costs ✔️Improve soil health ✔️Increase profitability ✔️Strengthen market access ✔️Build resilience against climate change ✔️Achieve more stable and dignified livelihoods Saving the farm ultimately means securing the future of the farmer. Without improving farm incomes and reducing vulnerability, even the best-designed schemes will have limited impact. #Agriculture #KhetBachaoAbhiyan #Farmers #AgriculturalPolicy #SoilHealth #ClimateResilientAgriculture #RuralDevelopment #NABARD #NITIAayog #AgricultureCurrentAffairs #SustainableAgriculture