Nationwide 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan – Rabi 2026' (Save the Fields campaign) launched today from Karnal, Haryana

22-10-2026 · English

Topics: Agriculture · 22 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the nationwide 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan – Rabi 2026' (Save the Fields campaign) at Karnal, Haryana, on 22 Oct 2026; it runs till 30 Nov (about 40 days). Aims: balanced fertiliser use based on soil testing, crop diversification (oilseeds, pulses, horticulture), water conservation, natural farming, crop-residue management, and awareness of PMFBY crop insurance and Kisan Credit Cards. It targets about 1 crore participants through 4,150 teams of KVKs and ATMA. Speaking at Karnal, the Minister urged farmers to stop burning stubble.

Key facts

Background

• Seasons: Kharif – sown in June–July with the south-west monsoon (rice, cotton, maize); Rabi – sown October–December, harvested April–June (wheat, mustard, gram, barley); Zaid – summer crops (watermelon, cucumber). Winter rain from Western Disturbances helps rabi crops.
• ICAR: set up on 16 July 1929 as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Agriculture (chaired by Linlithgow); HQ New Delhi; works under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE).
• Karnal hosts ICAR's National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research and Central Soil Salinity Research Institute. Paddy-stubble burning in Punjab–Haryana in Oct–Nov is a major cause of Delhi's air pollution.
• Soil Health Card scheme: launched on 19 Feb 2015 at Suratgarh, Rajasthan – gives farmers soil-test-based fertiliser advice, aiming to check overuse of fertilisers.

Tamil Nadu link: unlike North India's rabi–kharif pattern, Tamil Nadu's paddy seasons are Kuruvai (sown June–July), Samba (August; long-duration crop relying on the north-east monsoon), Thaladi (Sept–Oct), Navarai (Dec–Jan) and Sornavari (Apr–May) (TNAU Agritech).

Source: News On AIR (18 Oct 2026); Daijiworld (IANS); GKToday; Asianet Newsable (22 Oct 2026); CivilsDaily; TNAU Agritech

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