Why in the news?
The Union Ministry of Agriculture launched the nationwide ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ from Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh, on June 1, 2026, to promote sustainable agriculture and soil conservation.
Key Highlights
- Initiative launched under the leadership of Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
- Campaign aims to protect:
- Soil health
- Agricultural productivity
- Long term food security
- It will involve:
- Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research institutions
- Agricultural universities
- State agriculture departments
Major Objectives
- Promote balanced use of fertilisers
- Encourage:
- Natural farming
- Soil testing
- Green manuring
- Water conservation
- Spread awareness regarding:
- Soil Health Cards
- Climate resilient agriculture
- Alternative crops in low rainfall areas
- Identify counterfeit:
- Seeds
- Fertilisers
- Pesticides
Important Concerns Highlighted
- Rising temperatures
- Excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides
- Declining soil fertility
- Increasing climate crisis affecting agriculture
Government Schemes Linked with Campaign
The campaign seeks convergence with:
- PM Kisan Samman Nidhi
- Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
- Crop Insurance Scheme
- Soil Health Card Scheme
- Agricultural Mechanisation programmes
- Pulses and Oilseeds Mission
Consider the following statements:
The nation-wide ‘Soil Health Card Scheme’ aims at
1. expanding the cultivable area under irrigation.
2. enabling the banks to assess the quantum of loans to be granted to farmers on the basis of soil quality.
3. checking the overuse of fertilizers in farmlands.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 3 only
[C] 2 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
