From Food Security to Global Leadership: Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan Calls for a Self-Reliant and Value-Driven Agriculture
9th October 2025, New Delhi: Addressing the 120th Annual Session of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Addressing the 120th Annual Session of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan,Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, said that the Indian ethos of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world is one family” continues to guide the country’s approach to global development. This spirit of universal goodwill defines our civilization. It is not a philosophy of selfishness, but of collective well-being,” Shri Chouhan said.
“India has always believed that the entire world is one family. Yet, in this interconnected and volatile geopolitical environment, we must chart our own course — one that balances global friendship with national interest,” Shri Chouhan said.
Under the visionary leadership of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India is not being constructed — it is being reconstructed — as a proud, prosperous, powerful, and self-reliant nation,” the Minister affirmed.
He stressed that every citizen and institution must contribute to India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047, adding that agriculture will remain the backbone of India’s economic and social fabric.
Highlighting that nearly 46% of India’s population is engaged in agriculture, the Minister underlined the Government’s focus on self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) in food production and farmer welfare.
“Food security must go hand in hand with farmer prosperity,” he said. “We must ensure that our farmers not only feed the nation but also earn with dignity and stability.”
To achieve this, he emphasized the need to enhance per-hectare productivity, strengthen seed quality through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and accelerate mechanisation to empower small and marginal farmers.
Highlighting the Government’s agricultural priorities, Shri Chouhan said the nation’s goal must go beyond food security to encompass nutrition security and Atmanirbharta in all aspects of agriculture. While India has achieved surplus production in rice and wheat, he said, the next frontier is achieving self-reliance in pulses and oilseeds.
He noted that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Indian scientists are working on advanced research in genome editing, hybrid seeds, and high-yield varieties to enhance productivity and reduce costs.
He identified food processing and value addition as national priorities and invited the Chamber to collaborate with the Ministry in this effort.
“I urge PHDCCI to partner with us in identifying models for value addition, Mechanisation suited for small and marginal farmers, Storage and shelf-life enhancement technologies and agri-startups tailored to the needs of small farmers,” he said, suggesting that a joint working team be formed between the Ministry and PHDCCI to develop actionable solutions.
The Minister also highlighted the Government’s continued support for initiatives such as the Dalhan Atmanirbharta Mission (Chana–Masoor) to strengthen pulse production, and reaffirmed that Indian farmers will be protected from unfair external pressures.
Encouraging innovation, Shri Chouhan said the Government has a strong policy framework to promote agri-startups and entrepreneurship, recognizing agriculture, commerce, and trade as key drivers of India’s economic growth.
He praised the Chamber’s proactive role in supporting India’s development agenda:
“PHDCCI and Indian industry are our true partners in growth. I deeply value the Chamber’s contribution to nation-building over the past 120 years,” Shri Chouhan said.
The Minister also urged industry support for the Government’s proposal on ‘One Nation, One Election’, noting that synchronized elections will enhance administrative efficiency and policy continuity.
He concluded with a call to embrace ‘Swadeshi’ with quality, blending indigenous strength with global competitiveness.
“Let us adopt Swadeshi, but with the highest standards of quality. Together, we can make India the food basket of the world,” he said, congratulating PHDCCI on completing 120 years of service to the nation.
Welcoming the Minister, Shri Hemant Jain, President, PHDCCI and Group Managing Director, KLJ Group of Industries, said, that Shivraj ji embodies the spirit of leadership rooted in service. His vision of rural empowerment and agricultural prosperity reflects the very essence of ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ — where every farmer is an entrepreneur and every village a center of growth.
Proposing the Vote of Thanks, Shri Rajeev Juneja, Senior Vice President, PHDCCI & Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Mankind Pharma Ltd., expressed gratitude to Shri Chouhan for his inspiring address and reaffirmed PHDCCI’s commitment to working closely with the Government of India to strengthen India’s agricultural ecosystem and global competitiveness.
The session was also graced by Shri Anil Gupta, Vice President, PHDCCI & Chairman-cum-Managing Director, KEI Industries Ltd.; Shri Sanjeev Agrawal, Immediate Former President, PHDCCI & Group Chairman, MMG Group; Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI; former Presidents; members of the Managing Committee; and distinguished dignitaries from industry, academia, and the diplomatic corps.
Marking 120 years of legacy, leadership, and partnership, the Annual Session of PHDCCI, themed “India’s Rise as a Trusted Global Partner,” reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to advancing India’s economic transformation through innovation, inclusion, and collaboration.