For the development of the agriculture and horticulture sectors and for the welfare of farmers, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath today raised a series of demands, including the addition of “local natural calamities” to the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) guidelines, provision of up to 45,000 soil health cards, and an increase in the allocation under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme.

The Minister said this while addressing the second day of the National Agriculture Conference – Rabi Campaign 2026 in New Delhi.

The conference was attended by Union Minister of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ministers of State for Agriculture Ram Nath Thakur and Bhagirath Choudhary, Ministers of Agriculture from other States, Atish Chandra, Secretary of Agriculture, other officials from the Central Government, and officials from other States.

Minister Ratan Lal Nath said that this year, the Central Government has provided funds as per the State’s Action Plan and has done a great job in providing support to all the food-givers of the State.

He said that during the previous Rabi season, 25,000 hectares of hybrid paddy, 9,500 hectares of Rabi pulses and 9,700 hectares of Rabi oilseeds were cultivated, and the crops are expected to be harvested in the summer.

“This year, in the Kharif season, 37,500 hectares of area were cultivated under the Chief Minister's Integrated Crop Management Programme, including 27,500 hectares of hybrid paddy, 2,000 hectares of aromatic rice, 15,000 hectares of pulses, 8,000 hectares of oilseeds and 1,000 hectares of summer vegetables,” said the Minister.

The Agriculture Minister informed that, in addition, the State Government is working on the Farmer’s Registry, Digital Crop Survey and National Framework for Fertilizer Sale.