Shivraj Singh Chouhan Inaugurates National FPO Conclave 2025, Urges Farmers to Become Agripreneurs
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the National FPO Conclave 2025 in Delhi, attended by over 500 farmer producer organisations (FPOs) and experts from 24 states. Chouhan urged farmers to transition from mere producers to entrepreneurs by embracing value addition and integrated farming. The event featured exhibitions, panel discussions, and awards, with the government announcing plans for a new Seed Act and stricter action against fake seeds and pesticides.
Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the 2025 National FPO Conclave in Delhi, highlighting it as a key milestone in empowering farmers and boosting the rural economy. The two-day event gathered more than 500 progressive farmers, FPOs, implementing agencies, and business organisations from across 24 states and 140 districts, showcasing India’s agricultural diversity and innovation. Chouhan emphasized the need for farmers to move beyond traditional crop production, advocating for entrepreneurship through value addition, integrated farming systems, and allied activities to diversify income sources. He stressed that processing and marketing farm produce would enable farmers to capture greater value and become agripreneurs. Addressing persistent market challenges, Chouhan acknowledged the price disparity between farmers and consumers, urging efforts to bridge this gap. He announced the government’s intention to introduce a new Seed Act to ensure quality seeds for farmers and pledged strict action against counterfeit seeds and pesticides, with plans for tougher legislation to protect farmers. The event included a grand exhibition where 267 FPOs displayed a wide array of products, from grains and pulses to fruits, vegetables, and processed organic goods. Chouhan personally interacted with farmers at 57 stalls, commending their innovative approaches to value addition and marketing. Technical sessions and panel discussions covered critical topics such as oilseed production, water-use efficiency, natural farming, honey production, and digital marketing, fostering collaboration among farmers, experts, and industry leaders. The conclave also recognized outstanding FPOs and agencies for excellence in business, digital innovation, and farmer engagement, underlining the government’s commitment to strengthening farmer collectives and creating new market linkages for rural entrepreneurship.
