Southern states called for horticulture and export potential

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan along with Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao and his AP counterpart Kinjarapu Atchannaidu during the Southern States Zonal Agriculture Conference – 2026 in Hyderabad on Friday. | Photo credit: NAGARA GOPAL

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday called for cooperation among Central European states and regional planning to address challenges facing agriculture and improve farmers’ incomes.

Addressing a regional agricultural conference in the southern states here, Mr. Chouhan said that agricultural policies and plans must take into account the differences in agro-climatic conditions, soil, water availability and the way crops are grown in different states.

“Nation First” was the guiding principle of the Center and it did not approach agricultural issues on the basis of which political party was in power in a given state, he said. The conference discussed the impact of El Niño, crop diversification and preparations for the upcoming Rabi season.

Mr. Chouhan said the negotiations should result in tangible improvement in the lives of farmers, enhance food security, create employment opportunities and contribute to economic growth.

The minister said that food security, farmers’ livelihood and nutrition security are the three key objectives of agricultural policy. With a population of over 140 million, India could not afford to depend on other countries for its food requirements, he said.

A farmer who feeds the land should have a secure and prosperous livelihood, with increasing farm income a key priority. Ensuring access to nutritious food, rather than food itself, was just as important, he said.

Emphasizing the continued importance of agriculture amid rapid technological advances, Mr. Chouhan said artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics will transform several industries, but agriculture will remain indispensable.

Mr. Chouhan said that a single agricultural plan cannot adequately address the requirements of the entire country due to regional differences. The Rabi conference was subsequently extended to two days to give states more opportunity to present their concerns and proposals.

He said the challenges faced by Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat and North Eastern states were different from those faced by Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Regional conferences would help formulate solutions suited to local conditions, he said.

The minister urged states to study successful agricultural practices adopted elsewhere and adapt them to their own conditions. The Center will extend support while land and farmers will remain primarily the domain of states, he said.

Mr. Chouhan urged states to review outdated laws, rules and procedures that could restrict farmers and citizens. “Rules are meant for people, people are not meant for rules,” he said, adding that states should bring to the attention of the Center any issues requiring changes at the Union government level.

The minister highlighted South India’s potential in horticulture, especially in spices, coffee, cashew, cocoa and coconut. He said coconut exports increased from ₹ 4,349 crore to ₹ 7,038 crore in the year, a growth of 62%.

He said that the new coconut promotion program announced in the Union Budget would soon become operational and urged the southern states to gear up to maximize its benefits to farmers.

Mr. Chouhan said the free trade agreements entered into by India have opened up opportunities for agricultural exports. States should study international demand and encourage farmers to produce crops that meet global quality standards, he said.

He called for the adoption of international standards across the agricultural value chain so that farmers can benefit from access to global markets.

The Southern Regional Agriculture Conference brought together representatives of the Centre, Southern States and Union Territories, agricultural experts, ICAR institutions, progressive farmers and other stakeholders to discuss region-specific priorities and strengthen coordination for sustainable and resilient agriculture.

Published – 18 Sep 2026 23:40 IST