Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has introduced the ‘PRAGATI’ initiative to empower 20,000 agri-entrepreneurs and provide direct assistance to 20 lakh farmers. Chouhan emphasized the importance of a developed agricultural sector and prosperous villages for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
The initiative focuses on not only increasing agricultural production but also reducing cultivation costs, boosting farmers’ incomes, encouraging crop diversification, and enhancing the profitability of agriculture. Chouhan highlighted the significance of promoting value addition, food processing, and agriculture-based entrepreneurship for small and marginal farmers, stating that traditional farming methods are insufficient.
PRAGATI aims to enhance farmers’ incomes by facilitating access to technology, farm mechanization, soil health management, and improved market opportunities. The program, developed in collaboration with organizations like the State Bank of India Foundation (SBIF) and the Gates Foundation, seeks to drive a large-scale, inclusive, and climate-resilient regenerative agriculture initiative to uplift smallholder farmers.
The initiative is designed to build upon previous agri-entrepreneurship projects implemented in various states across India. Monica Bauer, Senior Vice President, Global Social Impact, from a supporting foundation, highlighted the crucial role of farmers in local economies and stressed the importance of supporting their livelihoods to establish a more resilient food system.
