The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, will hold a regional conference in Hyderabad on September 18, 2026, to discuss farming approaches that can withstand challenges while remaining sustainable. The event will bring together the Union Agriculture Minister, state ministers, agricultural scientists, and farming representatives from eight southern states and union territories.
What the conference will cover
The South Zonal Agriculture Conference will examine several areas of policy and practice:
- Adopting digital tools for farming and maintaining farmer records
- Growing high-value crops and processing agricultural produce locally
- Reducing dependence on imports for oils and pulses
- Natural and integrated farming methods
- Better use of fertilizers and stopping the sale of fake pesticides and fertilizers
The participating states—Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, plus Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Puducherry and Lakshadweep—will present their own successful farming models. These include Telangana’s Rythunestham scheme, Andhra Pradesh’s methods for handling weather uncertainty, Karnataka’s advances in growing pulses, Kerala’s systems for buying and selling farm produce, and Tamil Nadu’s use of precision farming technology.
The Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will attend, along with Ministers of State Ram Nath Thakur and Bhagirath Choudhary, and senior government representatives from the southern states.
What this means for you
If you farm in the southern regions, the discussions and shared practices from this conference may lead to new government schemes, technology support, or training opportunities reaching your area. The focus on reducing fake fertilizers and pesticides could improve the quality of inputs available to you. The emphasis on digital farming and farmer records may make it easier to access government benefits and market information. States’ proven methods in high-value crops and processing could create new income opportunities beyond traditional grain farming.