Speaking at a Kisan Sammelan in Bardoli, Chouhan recalled the historic 1928 Bardoli Satyagraha led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and called Gujarat a land of legendary leaders, praising Mahatma Gandhi and the present Prime Minister as Gujarat’s contributions to the country’s growth story.
He said the campaign was driven by the vision of taking knowledge from 'Lab to Land', highlighting that agriculture still anchors India’s economy by supporting half the population and contributing 18 percent to GDP. Over 16,000 scientists formed 2,170 teams that visited villages, held discussions at more than 55,000 sites, and directly addressed farmers’ questions, sharing region-specific insights on balanced use of fertilisers and pesticides, climate resilience and modern equipment.
“While the campaign may have officially ended, the mission to strengthen communication and connection with farmers will continue unabated,” Chouhan said. He noted that Gujarat leads India in crops like castor, cumin, fennel and dates, producing 77 percent of the country’s castor, nearly half the groundnut output, 24 percent of cotton and 15 percent of gram.
Farmers in Gujarat, he said, are fast embracing natural farming and value addition, helping boost exports. Many told him that natural farming has reduced their input costs without compromising quality or yield. The Minister laid out six goals for agriculture: increase productivity, cut costs, guarantee fair prices, cover crop loss, encourage crop diversification and protect soil health. He added that this year’s target is to cover 7.5 lakh hectares under natural farming, with 18 lakh farmers already expressing interest.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment under the slogan ‘One Nation-One Agriculture-One Team’, Chouhan stressed the importance of modern seeds, efficient irrigation and mechanisation. He praised farmers who have multiplied their incomes tenfold by adopting new methods, calling them “true scientists” and role models for Indian agriculture.
The event also saw Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel, Agriculture Minister Raghavjibhai Patel, Labour and Employment Minister Kunwarji Halpati, local MPs and MLAs, senior ICAR officials and Department of Agricultural Research and Education representatives in attendance. Scientists who worked on the campaign joined virtually.
During the campaign, Chouhan toured 14 states, including Jammu, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Delhi and Gujarat, interacting with farmers through Kisan Chaupals, conferences and padyatras, setting the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable farm sector.