New Delhi: The Centre’s Khet Bachaao Abhiyaan-Rabi 2026, a nationwide campaign to promote soil health and sustainable agriculture, is targeting around 50 lakh farmers across more than 700 districts and 50,000 villages in 34 States and Union Territories.
Running from October 22 to November 30, 2026, the campaign focuses on balanced fertiliser use, natural farming, crop diversification, climate-resilient agriculture and improved management of agricultural resources.
The initiative brings together agricultural departments, research institutions, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and Agricultural Technology Management Agencies (ATMA) to take scientific farming practices directly to farmers.
4,150 Teams and 50,000 Field Demonstrations Planned
The campaign envisages the deployment of 4,150 teams involving KVKs and ATMA, supported by more than 12,000 scientists and ATMA functionaries.
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Its major outreach targets include:
- 50,000 field demonstrations: 40,000 through KVKs and 10,000 through ICAR institutes.
- 11,750 training programmes: To improve farmers’ knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices.
- 5,650 awareness programmes: Planned over five weeks, with an estimated reach of 28.25 lakh farmers.
- Field and harvest activities: Demonstrations, field days and exposure visits to provide practical learning opportunities.
- Digital outreach: Social media outreach targeting 1.5 crore farmers, with overall digital outreach envisaged to reach 2.5 crore.
The campaign will also prioritise 100 districts with high fertiliser consumption to promote balanced nutrient management.
Balanced Fertiliser Use and Natural Farming Among Key Priorities
The initiative promotes science-based, location-specific farming practices, with particular emphasis on the following areas:
- Balanced nutrient management: Following General Fertiliser Recommendations and the 4R principle—Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time and Right Place.
- Natural farming: Encouraging natural farming through demonstrations, training and farmer-to-farmer learning.
- Integrated Nutrient Management: Promoting suitable organic and biological inputs alongside recommended fertiliser doses.
- Crop residue management: Encouraging alternatives to stubble burning, particularly in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
- Crop diversification: Supporting oilseed and pulse cultivation and the productive use of rice-fallow areas.
- Climate-resilient agriculture: Promoting location-specific contingency plans in drought-affected districts.
- Integrated Pest Management: Encouraging safe, need-based and label-compliant pesticide use.
Dhaincha and Green Gram Demonstrated for Improving Soil Health
As part of the campaign, ICAR-Mahatma Gandhi Integrated Farming Research Institute in Motihari, Bihar, conducted a farmer outreach programme at Pantoka Panchayat in Raxaul block of East Champaran.
The programme highlighted green manuring and biological nitrogen fixation as ways to improve soil health and manage fertiliser requirements.
Scientists explained that:
- Dhaincha (Sesbania species) can contribute around 50–60 kg of nitrogen per hectare, equivalent to approximately 110–130 kg of urea.
- Summer green gram can contribute 25–30 kg of nitrogen per hectare, equivalent to approximately 55–65 kg of urea.
Farmers were also encouraged to combine farmyard manure, compost, biofertilisers and crop residues with recommended fertiliser doses.
The programme involved 62 farmers, including 41 women, who were introduced to practices such as composting, mulching and vermicomposting as alternatives to crop residue burning.
Campaign Builds on June 2026 Outreach
The Rabi campaign follows an earlier month-long Khet Bachaao Abhiyaan launched on June 1, 2026.
According to the earlier campaign:
- Conducted more than 1.34 lakh awareness events, reaching 92.44 lakh farmers.
- Organised 6,685 training sessions on green manuring and biofertilisers, benefiting 4.94 lakh farmers.
- Held 3,167 field demonstrations and 4,779 interactive programmes.
- Reached approximately 1.07 crore farmers and other stakeholders through direct engagement.
- Recorded social media outreach of around 4.5 crore citizens.
The Rabi 2026 campaign also seeks to connect farmers with government schemes and services, including PM-KISAN, Soil Health Cards, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and Kisan Credit Card facilities.
Through field demonstrations, training and institutional coordination, the campaign aims to encourage balanced nutrient application, improve soil health and promote sustainable agricultural practices during the Rabi season.
