Chandigarh : Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Shyam Singh Rana said that the Mango Mela is a tribute to the hard work of farmers and a celebration of Haryana’s agricultural strength. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is emerging as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, with its villages, farmers and agriculture forming the backbone of this remarkable growth.
A farmer’s hard work receives its true value only when he also becomes a strong participant in the marketplace. With this vision, a nationwide network of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) is being created, which Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini is actively promoting across Haryana. By coming together through FPOs, small farmers can reduce cultivation costs and increase their incomes, said the Cabinet Minister.
The Minister was addressing the closing ceremony of the three-day 8th Mango Mela at the Sub-Tropical Fruit Centre, Ladwa, Kurukshetra, on Saturday. Earlier, he inspected the Centre’s nursery and learnt about scientific methods of raising quality planting material. He also planted a sapling in the campus, conveying the message of environmental conservation and urging people to carry forward Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. The Minister also visited stalls put up by progressive farmers from different States and showed keen interest in the diverse varieties of mangoes displayed at the exhibition.
Shyam Singh Rana said that more than 200 varieties of mangoes had been showcased at the Mango Mela, reflecting the experience, innovation and dedication of farmers. He said that if India is to become a developed nation by 2047, agriculture must also evolve in line with future requirements. While the world is increasingly embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI), its greatest benefits, he said, will accrue to farmers. AI can help identify soil nutrient deficiencies, determine the right irrigation schedule, recommend suitable crops, provide early disease alerts and assess market demand in advance, thereby saving time, reducing cultivation costs and enhancing farmers’ incomes, said the Cabinet Minister.
He said that drones are already being used for field surveys, AI is assessing soil health and weather-related information is reaching farmers directly on their mobile phones. AI-enabled digital accounting also enables farmers to maintain complete records of their expenditure and income through their smartphones. This, he said, is the future of smart farming. However, while technology can guide agriculture, the soul of farming will always remain the experience of the farmer. Therefore, tradition and technology must progress together.
He said that with agricultural landholdings becoming smaller, the Government is encouraging farmers to diversify towards horticulture. A subsidy of Rs. 42,000 per acre is being provided for establishing new mango orchards, and mango has also been brought under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana.
The Minister further said that the Government is actively promoting natural farming. Launched in 2022, the Natural Farming Scheme aims to protect soil health, reduce cultivation costs and secure the future of agriculture. Around two lakh farmers have registered nearly three lakh acres under the scheme, while over 24,000 farmers are practising natural farming on more than 44,000 acres. During 2025-26, natural farming was undertaken on 20,727 acres, and a budget provision of Rs. 30 crore has been made this year to further promote natural farming.
He said that indigenous cows hold a vital place in natural farming. From 2025, the subsidy for preparing Jeevamrit and Ghan Jeevamrit using indigenous cows has been increased to Rs. 30,000. In addition, every farmer is being provided Rs. 3,000 for the purchase of four drums required for the storage and processing of raw materials used in natural farming Director General, Horticulture Department, Dr Arjun Singh Saini, Mission Director, Horticulture Department, Dr Manoj Kumar, and other distinguished guests also remained present.
