Centre to form national-level panel to promote natural farming: Minister

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and said a national-level committee would be formed to promote natural farming in the country.

The Union Minister today visited the agricultural fields where natural farming is being done under the supervision of Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat at Kainthla village of Kurukshetra.

He said, “Due to indiscriminate use of chemical-based fertilisers, the fertility of land is decreasing, beneficial insects are getting killed and the chemically grown produce has become a cause for many diseases. If the situation is not changed, the future generations will not forgive us. We have to move towards natural farming.

“There are misconceptions that the yield will be lower in natural farming. With all confidence, I want to tell farmers that if natural farming is done in a proper manner, the yield will increase. With natural farming, along with intercropping, farmers can get better results. It will be beneficial for the land too,” said Chouhan.

The Union Agriculture Minister said, “Soon, we will form a national-level committee and make efforts to start a movement to promote natural farming. Through this committee, we will urge farmers to start adopting the techniques of natural farming from a small piece of land and then expand gradually after taking proper training. Farmers of the country will be made aware about adopting natural farming and the farmers will also be given training. The citizens will be able to get vegetables, grains and fruits without pesticides.”

Chouhan visited the wheat, sugarcane and vegetable fields, saw the process of making jaggery and also tasted fresh jaggery. He praised the Gujarat Governor for his efforts and said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the mission of natural farming is being taken forward. To make this mission successful, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat is doing commendable work. Natural farming could be taken forward only after taking training. Thousands of people are visiting this farm and it has become a model of natural farming in the whole country, he said.

Earlier, Chouhan also visited Gurukul Kurukshetra and observed the cowshed, biogas plant, Gurukul hostel and other institutions. Haryana Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana was also present on this occasion.