The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare will host a two-day national conference on 28 and 29 September 2026 in New Delhi to plan the upcoming rabi (winter) crop season. Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan will inaugurate the event at the NASC Complex in Pusa. State agriculture ministers, central and state government officials, scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and other stakeholders will attend to align on priorities and readiness for the rabi season.
Key facts
- Conference dates: 28-29 September 2026
- Venue: Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium, NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi
- Inaugurated by: Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
- Participants: State agriculture ministers, central and state officials, ICAR representatives and other agricultural stakeholders
- Three thematic areas on day one: Atmanirbharta, Diversification and Production Growth; Sustainability and Climate-Resilient Agriculture; and Digital Agriculture, Infrastructure, Financing and Risk Management
What the conference will cover
The first day will have three parallel discussions organized around broad themes. The first focuses on self-sufficiency in pulses, oilseeds and oil palm production, alongside horticulture and cotton. It will also address seed availability, reforms in the seed supply chain and strategies to improve production and farmer incomes. The second thematic area tackles sustainable farming methods including natural farming practices, soil health monitoring and farm mechanisation to reduce drudgery and costs. The third covers digital tools in agriculture, farm infrastructure development, credit access through Kisan Credit Cards, crop insurance under the Prime Minister Fasal Bima Yojana, and risk management systems.
The discussions will identify implementation bottlenecks at the state level, set priorities specific to each region and develop actionable plans for the rabi season. Special emphasis will be placed on better coordination between government schemes, strengthening systems to deliver benefits on the ground and ensuring results reach farmers.
Second day agenda
The second day will review lessons from regional zonal conferences held earlier and consolidate outcomes from day one discussions. Sessions will cover weather forecasts for the rabi season, fertilizer availability and balanced nutrient use, the Digital Agriculture Mission, a registry of farmers, digital crop surveys and AgriStack (the government’s agricultural data platform). The Atmanirbharta Mission for pulses, the National Mission on Edible Oils, updates on crop and seed status, crop variety adoption, the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and market reforms will be reviewed. State agriculture ministers will share their experiences, local priorities and suggestions for farm development and rabi preparedness. The conference will conclude by summarizing key decisions and preparing a roadmap to boost rabi crop production and support farmers.
Connection to existing schemes
This conference builds on work from earlier zonal meetings and feeds into multiple ongoing government agricultural programmes. The Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana supports pulses and oilseeds production. The Atmanirbharta (self-sufficiency) mission aims to reduce imports of pulses, edible oils and oilseeds through domestic production. The Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) financing initiative helps groups of farmers access credit and markets. Digital agriculture initiatives including crop surveys and farmer registries aim to modernize farm management and link farmers to services. These discussions will align centre and state governments on implementing these schemes more effectively.
What this means for you
If you are a farmer, the outcomes of this conference will shape government support available to you during the rabi season. Better coordination may improve access to quality seeds, fertilizers, credit and crop insurance. If you work in agriculture administration or extension, the roadmap will clarify priorities and expected results. Students preparing for civil service exams should note this reflects how agricultural policy is formulated through Centre-State consultation. Businesses involved in farm inputs, machinery or processing will see market opportunities shaped by these priorities.
What happens next
After the two-day conference concludes on 29 September 2026, the ministry will prepare a consolidated roadmap based on state inputs and thematic discussions. This roadmap is expected to guide agricultural plans and resource allocation for the rabi season across states.