New Delhi : The Government of India will organise a series of region-wise zonal conferences across the country during April–May 2026 to strengthen the agriculture sector. The initiative, led by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan, aims to create a platform for dialogue, review, and future planning.
The conferences will bring together Union and State Agriculture Ministers, senior officials, scientists, progressive farmers, farmer organisations, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), agri-startups, and private sector stakeholders to assess the progress of key schemes and develop forward-looking strategies based on ground-level insights.
Sharing details, Chouhan said the first conference for the western region will be held in Jaipur on April 7, with participation from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma will also attend the event.
The northern region conference is scheduled for April 17 in Lucknow, covering Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. The eastern region meeting will take place on April 24 in Bhubaneswar, with participation from Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. Further conferences are planned in Hyderabad and Guwahati towards the end of May to address issues specific to southern and north-eastern states.
The primary objective of these conferences is to enhance Centre–State coordination and ensure effective implementation of major agricultural initiatives such as the Aatmanirbhar Dalhan Mission, National Edible Oil Mission, Natural Farming Mission, and Digital Agriculture Mission. The platform will also help identify implementation challenges and facilitate timely, collaborative solutions.
The conferences will see participation from institutions such as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, along with banks, agri-startups, and private stakeholders.
Interactive sessions will allow farmers to directly share their experiences and suggestions, ensuring that policymaking is informed by grassroots realities. The government expects that this participatory approach will boost innovation, investment, and technology adoption in agriculture, ultimately leading to higher farmer incomes and sustainable rural development.
Chouhan expressed confidence that continuous engagement with stakeholders will help shape practical, responsive, and outcome-driven policies for the sector.