Here farmers get training in organic farming

BS Malik 

Mahra Gaon, a facility developed for the training of farmers in organic farming on about 13 acres at Devru village in Sonepat district, has become popular not only among local farmers but also farmers from other districts of the state as well as adjoining states. It is located between Murthal dhabas and fast urbanising pockets of Sonepat town.

Sri Krishan Gaushala Trust at Mehandupur village in Sonepat district took the initiative with an initial investment of Rs 40 lakh. It took about 13 acres on lease at Devru village and established Mahra Gaon on two acres. The facility includes huts, a kitchen, and solar light arrangements to meet the requirements of visiting farmers. 

A gaushala with around 70 cows of different breeds have also been opened to meet the milk requirement of farmers staying at Mahra Gaon and also for the use of dung as fertiliser in crops. Besides, 11 acres are being used for the production of seasonal crops without the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. 

Brahma Singh from Khekra village in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh, Amandeep from Keorak village in Kaithal district, Jagbir from Murlana in Sonepat have undergone training in organic farming, particularly in vegetable crops, at Mahra Gaon. They say governments must make such arrangements for promoting organic farming to save people, particularly coming generations, from poisonous food items.

Sanjiv Kumar, coordinator of Sri Krishan Gaushala Trust, says, “It is generally seen that people get sick after taking poisonous food. The best way to get rid of poisonous food items is to adopt organic farming, which used to be common in Haryana villages before 1960”.