Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday (April 11, 2026) said that shortage of funds will not hamper the growth of the agriculture sector in the country while calling upon the youth to join the sector. 

Mr. Singh was addressing a farmers event in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen along with Union Agriculture Minister and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

Addressing the Unnat Krishi Mahotsav — 2026, a three-day event, Mr. Singh listed various initiatives and schemes rolled out for the farmers by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union Government, such as PM-KISAN, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil Health Card, and an online network of wholesale mandis.

“Arrangements have been made to ensure that every household receives electricity, water, and road connectivity. Earlier, many areas were served only by unpaved tracks, making it impossible for trucks to reach them; this is no longer the case. With electricity now reaching the fields, farmers can irrigate their crops with ease. An online system has also been introduced for agricultural markets, enabling farmers to determine — right from the comfort of their homes — where to sell their produce. However, the changes implemented so far are not sufficient; much work still remains to be done. A lack of funds will not stand in the way of this endeavour, as we remain fully committed to your welfare,” Mr. Singh said. 

“In my political life, I have been agriculture minister in the past. Wherever I have gone, the kisan in me has been alive,” he added. 

Mr. Singh also said that the Defence Ministry has taken a decision under which, in the cantonment areas, vegetables and fruits are being bought only from the nearby farmers who practice organic farming.

“Vegetables, fruits and other produce were earlier being brought from far away, losing freshness in transit. Now we are buying organic produce from farmers. Through our this initiative, in the past few months, there has been a substantial increase in the income of farmers around the cantonment,” he said, adding that the move has also encouraged farmers to take up organic farming.

The Defence Minister also said that if the youth participate in the agriculture sector, it could help farmers boost their income. 

“There is a need to advance agriculture by integrating modern technologies and innovations, such as drones and mobile sensors. Techniques involving technology can be utilized for soil testing, weather forecasting, and crop monitoring. Furthermore, profitable returns can be generated by processing raw agricultural produce through food processing. In this sector, young entrepreneurs can launch new startups to liberate farmers from the clutches of middlemen and moneylenders,” he said. 

Mr. Yadav said that Madhya Pradesh is moving towards its target of reaching 1 crore hectare of land under irrigation. 

“The irrigated area in Madhya Pradesh is also expanding rapidly. While in the year 2002-03, irrigation facilities were available for an area of ​​merely 7.5 lakh hectares, under our government, the irrigated area has now grown to reach 55 lakh hectares. We are moving forward in a mission mode to achieve the target of bringing 1 crore hectares of the state’s agricultural land under irrigation,” he said. 

Mr. Chouhan, a former Madhya Pradesh CM, said that at the three-day event, farmers can obtain information and support that will help them increase their income. 

“Information will be provided on integrated farming as a means to enhance farmers’ income from agriculture. Through integrated farming, an income of up to ₹2 lakh can be generated from a single acre of land. 20 sessions have been organized covering various topics related to farming. These sessions will provide farmers with information regarding every form of support available to them—from the procurement of seeds to market linkages,” Mr. Chouhan said, a new mobile application for soil testing has also been launched.