**Policy Summary**
On July 10, 2025, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, addressed the 16th Agriculture Leadership Conclave in New Delhi, highlighting key government initiatives and achievements in the agricultural sector.
The Minister emphasized the distribution of 25 crore Soil Health Cards to promote balanced fertilizer usage and the facilitation of crop loans through the Kisan Credit Card initiative. He noted the significant benefits accruing to farmers under the PMKISAN Samman Nidhi scheme. Additionally, 1,400 mandis have been integrated into the eNAM platform to provide farmers with real-time crop price information and enhanced market access. Substantial subsidies are being provided to ensure affordable fertilizer prices, with uninterrupted supply maintained even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shri Goyal stated that India's agricultural sector has demonstrated resilience amid global market challenges, with agri-exports reaching ₹4 lakh crore, including animal husbandry and fisheries. He credited farmers' role in achieving Atmanirbhar Bharat and promoting the "Local Goes Global" vision, citing the global success of Indian products like basmati rice, spices, fruits, vegetables, and fisheries. Supportive policies, fiscal incentives, reduced tariff barriers, and new market access through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with countries including Australia, the UAE, EFTA nations, and the UK have driven significant progress.
Future initiatives will focus on seed production and quality, natural and organic farming, and irrigation technologies, including drip irrigation. The government is prioritizing digital agriculture through Artificial Intelligence, geospatial technology, weather prediction systems, vertical farming, and AI-enabled tools to support Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and cooperatives. Value addition through food processing, improved design, branding, and packaging will further enhance agriculture's economic contribution. Government schemes and allocated funds for agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries are aimed at strengthening warehousing and storage infrastructure.
The government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is committed to ensuring a secure and prosperous future for Indian farmers, recognizing agriculture as a key engine for Viksit Bharat.
**Contact:**
Abhishek Dayal
Abhijith Narayanan
Ishita Biswas
Release ID: 2143691
Key Entities Referenced
Shri Piyush Goyal: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry
PMKISAN Samman Nidhi: A scheme under which income support is provided to all landholder farmer families across the country.
Soil Health Cards: Cards distributed to farmers to promote balanced fertiliser usage.
Kisan Credit Card: An initiative to provide crop loans to farmers.
eNAM: Electronic National Agriculture Market platform, integrating 1,400 mandis to provide real-time information on crop prices.
New Delhi: The location of the 16th Agriculture Leadership Conclave.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: A vision for a self-reliant India, with farmers being key contributors.
Australia: Country with which India has FTAs.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
25 Crore Soil Health Cards Distributed; Kisan Credit
Cards Ensuring Wider Credit Access: Union Minister
of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal
PM-KISAN Benefitted Crores of Farmers; 1,400
Mandis Linked with e-NAM to Strengthen Market
Access: Shri Piyush Goyal
FTAs with Australia, UAE, EFTA Nations, and UK
Along with Supportive Policies Driving Agricultural
Growth: Shri Goyal
Farmers are Key Contributors to Atmanirbhar Bharat
and “Local Goes Global” Vision: Shri Piyush Goyal
Posted On: 10 JUL 2025 2:55PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, during his address at the 16th Agriculture
Leadership Conclave in New Delhi yesterday stated that 25 crore Soil Health Cards have been distributed to
farmers to promote balanced fertiliser usage, and crop loans have been made accessible through the Kisan
Credit Card initiative.
Further Shri Goyal said that, the Government has consistently placed the agricultural sector at the forefront of
its development agenda under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a large number of farmer
families have benefitted from the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi scheme. Additionally, 1,400 mandis have been
integrated with the e-NAM platform, enabling farmers across the country to access real-time information on
crop prices and enhance market linkages.
In the fertiliser sector, the Central Government has provided substantial subsidies to ensure that farmers
receive fertilisers at affordable prices. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, timely fertiliser supply to
farmers was ensured.
He noted that India’s agricultural sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience—even amid global market
turbulence and declining export trends. The efforts of Indian farmers have contributed to a stable agri-export
performance, with agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries exports reaching ₹4 lakh crore. The farming
community has played a key role in building an Atmanirbhar Bharat and turning the “Local Goes Global”
vision into a reality.
Shri Goyal said that India’s farmers have been instrumental in the global success of products such as basmatiand other varieties of rice, spices, fresh fruits and vegetables, horticulture and floriculture produce, as well as
in the fisheries and poultry sectors. With supportive policies, fiscal incentives, reduced tariff barriers, and new
market access through Free Trade Agreements developed countries including Australia, the UAE, the EFTA
nations, and the UK, the agriculture sector has witnessed significant progress.
Looking ahead, he expressed confidence that further development would take place in seed production and
quality, natural and organic farming, and irrigation—including drip irrigation. He emphasised the
Government’s focus on promoting digital agriculture by introducing Artificial Intelligence, geospatial
technology, weather prediction systems, vertical farming, and AI-enabled tools. These innovations, he noted,
would support Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and cooperatives.
The Minister further stated that value addition through food processing, along with improvements in design,
branding, and packaging, will boost agriculture's contribution to the economy. Various government schemes
and programmes, along with funds allocated to agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries, are aimed at
strengthening warehousing and storage infrastructure.
Shri Goyal affirmed that the Government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, remains fully committed to
ensuring a secure and prosperous future for India’s farmers, reaffirming that agriculture remains a key engine
in the journey of Viksit Bharat.
***
Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas
(Release ID: 2143691)