Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela unveils roadmap for Viksit Krishi–Atmanirbhar Bharat reforms

Key facts

• Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the three-day Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) campus in Pusa, Delhi.
• He announced that agencies or state governments withholding farmers’ money will pay 12% interest on the withheld amount.
• The Centre is exploring direct transfer of its share to farmers if states delay payments under schemes.
• Over ₹2 lakh crore annual fertiliser subsidy is under review for possible Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to farmers’ accounts.
• Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans charge 4% effective interest for about 75% of small farmers; banks must ensure zero-delay disbursement.
• Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) will be developed as district-level agricultural reform command centres to bridge research and extension.
• Pesticide licensing will be simplified through reduced layers, fixed timelines and full transparency to speed quality product availability.
• Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement window to be compressed from three months to a maximum of one month in coordination with states.
• The ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ will resume in April with scientist teams visiting villages ahead of the kharif season to transfer latest technologies.
• Seven farmers received the IARI Krishi Adhyeta Award during the inaugural session.