PATIALA, 20 June 2025: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday announced a bold vision to transform India into a global hub for agricultural machinery manufacturing, during his visit to Punjab under the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan.
Addressing farmers and factory workers in Amargarh, Chouhan affirmed that “India will not only manufacture agricultural tools for its own farmers but also export them to the world.”
Accompanied by Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, ICAR DG Dr. M.L. Jat, and PAU VC Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, the Union Minister reviewed local crop conditions and toured a cutting-edge agricultural equipment facility.
“Agriculture contributes over 18% to our GDP and supports half our population. Our goal is not just food security for 1.45 billion Indians, but also global leadership in agri-innovation,” Chouhan said.
Farm Machinery Fit for the World
The Minister highlighted recent Indian innovations in multipurpose harvesters, transplanting machines, and low-cost equipment, especially tailored for smallholder farms. He called for collaborative efforts with state governments to further scale manufacturing for both domestic and export markets.
“When I visited Brazil, I saw advanced machines, but their farming conditions are vastly different. Our machines must be small-farm compatible, affordable, and export-ready.”
Chouhan emphasized the importance of affordability, stating that subsidies should only reach genuine beneficiaries and pricing must allow small and marginal farmers to adopt modern tools without financial stress.
Seeds for the Future: Climate-Ready Agriculture
To enhance resilience, the Minister urged ICAR scientists to develop climate-adapted, heat-resistant seed varieties that maintain yield in changing weather conditions.
He also reinforced the need for research-driven, low-cost farming solutions:
- Reduce production costs
- Increase productivity
- Leverage mechanization without overdependence on manual labor
“Today we are not just consumers of technology, but creators. We are making machines in India that can compete globally.”
Farmer-Centric Development
Lauding the historic role of Punjab’s farmers, Chouhan recalled:
“From importing poor-quality wheat, India has grown into an exporter of premium Basmati rice. But we must now move beyond past glory — our farmers must become prosperous and future-ready.”
He promised that all future decisions on agricultural mechanization will involve direct consultation with farmers and stakeholders, ensuring ground-level realities guide national policies.
A national-level agri-mechanization roadmap, backed by industry partnerships and state cooperation, is expected to be unveiled in the coming months.
