Know Your Minister - Shyam Singh Rana - Farmer turned Agriculture Minister

Shyam Singh Rana was born in a farming family in the Chanar Rehdi village of Kurukshetra district. His connection with agriculture roots down to his family legacy of farmers. Rana completed his graduation from Kurukshtera University in 1973 and later settled in Vishwakarma Colony in Radaur. His farming background eventually played a great role in influencing his political approach and understanding the challeneges faced by farmers firsthand.

Political Journey 

Shyam Singh Rana 's political career spans several decades. He served as BJP 's district president and state executive member but he briefly joined INLD during 2020 's farmers protest. He contested his first election in the year 2009 but sadly it didn't turned out as expected and he lost. He won his first election in 2014 during the BJP wave. He served as Chief Parliamentary Secretary which provided him crucial administrative experience. The 2024 victory against congress leader Dr. Bishan Lal Saini by 13,312 votes demonstrate his political influence.

Vision for Agricultural Transformation

Rana is currently serving as Agriculture minister under the Nayab Singh Saini government and championed various innovative initiatives. His flagship "Har Khet-Swasth Khet" campaign aims to provide soil health cards to every farmer in Haryana within three to four years. Showcadsing his commitment to scientific farming, the state has been able to establish 17 new permanent soil testing laborataries and 240 small testing facilities inn educational institutions. 

Transformative Agricultural Initiatives

Under Rana's leadership, Haryana's agriculture sector has seen substantial modernization. Key achievements include:

• Establishment of an Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre at Ramnagar
• Implementation of significant subsidies (85% on beekeeping boxes, 75% on equipment)
• Distribution of 56,610 beekeeping boxes (2019-24)
• Creation of 54 soil testing laboratories across mandis
• Launch of comprehensive soil testing covering 70 lakh samples 
• Introduction of drone technology in farming
• Development of modern farming technique training programs

Personal Traits and Working Style

Colleagues describe Rana as methodical and accessible. He maintains a regular schedule of field visits and farmer meetings. His agricultural background helps him connect with farmers personally, often participating in agricultural demonstrations and equipment trials. He's known for his hands-on approach, recently demonstrated when he personally tested drone operations at the Krishi Darshan Exhibition in Hisar.

Shyam Singh Rana's influence surely extends beyond his political role in the state. His residence at Radaur serves as a community hub and he has time and again demonstrated his ability to balance various intertests. His calm and composed nature and consensus building skill gained him support across different social groups, particularly within Rajput community.  

Vision for Future 

As Minister, Rana is spearheading the establishment of a digital cell for agricultural statistics and employment tracking. His focus on combining technological advancement with traditional farming practices positions Haryana for sustainable agricultural growth.