Shivraj Singh Chouhan acknowledges agri-Influencers’ role in bridging gap between farmers and policy

Leading the delegation was Pargat Singh, a well-known agri-educator and content creator behind the Crops Information platform.

“It was a proud and meaningful moment to present the demands of the farming community in the form of a memorandum directly to the agriculture minister of India, the agriculture minister of Punjab, and the director-general of ICAR (Indian Council for Agricultural Research). This platform at ICAR IIMR Ludhiana gave us the opportunity to raise farmers’ voices directly at the top level,” said Pargat Singh after the meeting.

These digital creators—followed by lakhs of farmers across platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook—have become trusted voices for real-time guidance on everything from sowing schedules and pest control to fertiliser use and weather alerts.

Memorandum of demands
Acknowledging their vital role, Union minister Chouhan received a formal memorandum of demands, marking a significant step toward bridging the gap between grassroots realities and agricultural policy.

Chouhan inaugurated the new building of the IIMR on Tuesday. The event, also attended by Punjab Agriculture Minister Sardar Gurmeet Singh Khudian and the director-general of the ICAR, Dr M L Jat, marked not just the expansion of agricultural infrastructure but a new dimension of stakeholder engagement.

For the first time at such a high-profile event, a meeting of 22-25 minutes was organised with agricultural influencers and content creators, who are shaping the way farmers access knowledge across India through digital platforms.

In the meeting, the minister appreciated efforts in disseminating real-time, reliable agricultural information to lakhs of farmers.

Among those present were Pargat Singh, who presented a detailed memorandum of key farming demands, co-signed by fellow influencers including Dr Kuldeep Singh (Meri Kheti Mera Punjab), Baljinder Singh Mann (Mausam Punjab Da), Harjinder Singh Sandhu (Jodhan Farm), Sandeep Bishnoi, Amrik Singh Dhillon, Gurpreet Singh (AgriFarming), Parmjit Singh (Maan Farm, Kotkapura), and Sukhjit Singh Warraich (Warraich Farm, Samrala).

“This meeting was a powerful opportunity to bring the real issues of farmers directly to the agriculture minister of India and the agriculture minister of Punjab. It was a great step toward bridging the gap between policy and the field,” added Pargat Singh.

The memorandum of demands submitted to the Union minister outlined critical challenges being faced by farmers today.

Maize seed availability and paddy procurement
One of the top concerns was the timely availability of seed, especially hybrid maize seed, mostly sourced from southern India. Last season, this led to delayed sowing and significant yield loss.

“This year too, farmers are reporting non-availability of seeds on time. With maize cultivation expanding rapidly, seed shortages could cause widespread impact. The government must intervene,” the memorandum stated.

A crisis in paddy procurement in Punjab was discussed at length. Farmers are facing extended delays, arbitrary penalties, and resistance to hybrid paddy varieties. Penalties of Rs 5–10 per kg are being imposed for supposed excess moisture content—often without scientific backing. There is also resistance from millers to procure hybrid paddy, citing low outturn ratios.

“This directly affects farmer income and leads to unintended consequences like increased stubble burning,” the memorandum said, calling for standardised moisture norms, regulated penalties, and fair procurement processes.
‘Tagging’ with subsidised fertilisers

Influencers also highlighted a troubling practice where farmers are being forced to purchase unrelated or substandard products bundled with subsidised fertilizers like urea, DAP, or nano urea.

“In many places, fertilisers are being sold with added material—often useless—causing financial burden. Even though earlier efforts were made to stop this tagging, it’s not being implemented at the ground level,” the memorandum noted.

They also demanded public access to weather data. Since May 2025, the India Meteorological Department has restricted public access to real-time data from automatic weather stations (AWS). Influencers urged the Government to reverse this decision.

“Weather plays a critical role in farming. We need open access to data. Many AWS stations are outdated or non-functional. Reviving these systems will improve weather forecasting and decision-making for farmers,” the memorandum noted.

In addition, the influencers called for priority approvals for seed varieties resistant to weeds and pests, including cotton varieties resistant to pink bollworm, under scientific scrutiny, to help combat evolving agricultural threats.

Union minister Chouhan responded positively to the memorandum, assuring that the concerns would be seriously reviewed and acted upon through relevant ICAR bodies and state departments.

The Union Agriculture minister also assured a detailed meeting at Delhi’s Krishi Bhawan with these educators and influencers in the coming months. He said influencers’ insights were valuable and would be considered for integration into policy planning.

Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian emphasised state-level cooperation in areas such as seed distribution, fertiliser monitoring, and procurement transparency.

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