Patna, 2026: Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted integrated farming, natural farming and stronger branding of farm products as key strategies to improve farmers’ incomes during the “Krishi Jan Kalyan Samvad” held in Patna.

Addressing farmers, agricultural experts, progressive farmers and rural representatives, Chouhan described farmers as the backbone of the country and stressed that practical, locally adaptable farming models can help small and marginal farmers reduce risk and generate income throughout the year.

Integrated farming to diversify farm income

The Union Minister highlighted successful agricultural demonstration models developed at the ICAR Eastern Campus as examples of how small landholdings can be used more efficiently.

Under a 2–3 bigha integrated farming model, farmers can diversify their activities by cultivating crops such as wheat, gram, mustard and maize while also combining agriculture with fish farming, poultry, duck rearing, vine vegetables, fruit trees and fodder production.

According to the examples shared during the interaction, combining multiple enterprises can create several income streams for a farm family and, in successful cases, generate annual family income of up to ₹2 lakh.

Chouhan emphasized that diversification can reduce farmers’ dependence on a single crop and provide greater income stability across different seasons.

Push for natural and balanced farming

The Minister also stressed the importance of natural farming and soil health management. He cautioned against excessive dependence on chemical fertilizers and encouraged farmers to gradually experiment with natural and improved farming practices.

Rather than shifting their entire farm immediately, farmers were encouraged to test such practices on a small portion of their land, assess the results and expand them based on their experience.

Chouhan underlined that maintaining soil health is essential for sustainable agricultural production and long-term farmer prosperity.

Centre and states to strengthen branding and marketing

Another major focus of the interaction was the need to improve the marketing and branding of farmers’ products.

Chouhan said that the Centre and state governments would work together to give agricultural and organic products a stronger identity in the market. Better branding, recognition and market access, he said, could help farmers secure improved prices for their produce.

The approach seeks to move beyond production alone and strengthen the entire value chain—from cultivation to processing, branding and marketing.

Farmers’ experiences discussed

During the programme, Chouhan interacted directly with farmers and listened to their concerns, experiences and suggestions. He appreciated the efforts of progressive farmers, including Ramjeet Sharma, Ramkumar Vinay, Sushila Devi and Sudhanshu, whose experiences demonstrated different approaches to improving farm livelihoods.

The Minister said that such interactions were intended not merely as formal events but as an opportunity to understand farmers’ challenges directly and develop practical solutions.

He also emphasized the importance of being connected with rural communities and agricultural fields, stating that genuine understanding of farming comes from spending time with farmers and observing conditions on the ground.

Centre-state cooperation for higher farm incomes

The Union Minister assured participants that farmers’ suggestions would be considered while shaping future interventions. He also said that he would return to Bihar to review initiatives related to soil improvement, agricultural development and farmers’ livelihoods.

The programme reinforced the government's focus on combining crop diversification, integrated farming, natural farming, market linkages and Centre-state cooperation to improve the economic resilience of farming households.

The event was attended by Bihar Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar and Revenue Minister Dilip Jaiswal, along with senior government officials, agricultural experts, progressive farmers and rural representatives.