digantsharma In a major policy push aimed at transforming Indian agriculture, the Union Government has launched the ‘Krishi Sashakt Abhiyan’, a nationwide initiative designed to strengthen farmer livelihoods, enhance crop productivity, and promote sustainable practices. Announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare in May 2025, the scheme aligns with India’s goals for doubling farmers’ income and promoting climate-resilient farming.
The new campaign is a convergence of several ongoing schemes under a unified framework to improve implementation and reach.
🌾 Key Highlights of Krishi Sashakt Abhiyan
The campaign comprises six strategic focus areas:
- Digital Krishi Infrastructure
- Expansion of e-NAM integration at the village level
- Real-time access to mandi prices, weather forecasts, and soil health reports
- Climate-Smart Agriculture
- Incentives for drip irrigation, solar-powered pumps, and bio-fertilizers
- Special training modules on drought- and flood-resistant crops
- Credit and Insurance Access
- Easier enrolment in the PM Fasal Bima Yojana
- Interest-free loans up to ₹2 lakh for small and marginal farmers under new cooperative bank linkages
- Market Linkage and Value Addition
- Financial assistance for establishing FPO-owned storage and cold chains
- 50% subsidy for local agri-processing units
- Youth in Agriculture
- Launch of the Agri Innovators Fellowship for rural youth to promote agri-tech entrepreneurship
- ₹5 crore startup fund for incubating innovations in seed tech and post-harvest solutions
- Veterinary and Livestock Support
- Mobile veterinary units to be deployed in 200 districts
- Upgraded disease surveillance under NADRS 2.0
🧑🌾 Target Beneficiaries
The Abhiyan aims to directly impact 12 crore farmers, especially focusing on:
- Small and marginal farmers
- Women-led agricultural households
- Tribal farming communities
The initiative also provides special budgetary allocations for North-Eastern states and rain-fed regions.
🏛️ Implementation Timeline and Budget
With an initial outlay of ₹65,000 crore, the program will be rolled out in phases over three years (2025–2028). A centralized dashboard will be launched in July 2025 for real-time monitoring, and local Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) will act as ground-level implementation partners.
🔍 Expert Reactions
Policy experts have hailed the integrated nature of the scheme. Dr. R.K. Sharma, an agri-economist at ICAR, stated, “Krishi Sashakt Abhiyan shows promise because it connects the dots—from market access to crop insurance to tech empowerment—under one umbrella.”
However, experts also caution that timely execution, local-level customization, and farmer awareness will be crucial to the program’s success.
