GWALIOR, 31 August 2025: Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday underscored the need to reduce agricultural costs and enhance wheat and barley productivity, calling it vital for making farming more profitable.
Speaking at the 64th All India Wheat and Barley Research Workers’ Workshop at Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Agricultural University, Gwalior, Chouhan said that India’s self-reliance in wheat and rice production must now be matched with efforts to raise per-hectare yields, particularly of pulses and oilseeds, to curb import dependence.
The Minister noted that India’s wheat output had increased from 86.5 million tonnes to 117.5 million tonnes in the past decade, a 44% rise. He emphasised that further progress requires scientific interventions, including bio-fortified wheat varieties and better soil management practices.
Paying tribute to Dr. M.S. Swaminathan in his centenary year, Mr. Chouhan credited farmers and agricultural scientists for making India a “strong agricultural nation” on the global stage. He also highlighted the medicinal value of barley and called for its wider promotion.
Chouhan urged scientists to ensure their research reaches farmers directly under the ‘Lab to Land’ approach. He also stressed the importance of stubble management, curbing counterfeit fertilisers and pesticides, and promoting integrated farming systems that combine crops with animal husbandry, beekeeping, fisheries, and horticulture.
The Minister reiterated that the government is taking strict action against companies selling spurious inputs and appealed to citizens to adopt indigenous products to support the rural economy.
“This workshop is not just a formality but a platform to create a concrete roadmap for Indian agriculture,” Chouhan said.
