Guv exhorts farmers to switch to natural farming

Tribune News Service

Solan, January 4

Chemical fertilisers are resulting in deadly diseases such as cancer. According to a research, the number of cancer patients in the last one-and-a-half year has increased by 25 per cent.

This was stated by Governor Acharya Devvrat while addressing a farmers’ meet under the Prakritik Kheti, Khushhal Kisan scheme (formulated on Subhash Palekar model of natural farming) at Dr YS Parmar Horticulture and Forestry University, Nauni, here today.

More than 800 farmers from Solan, Shimla, Bilaspur, Sirmaur and Una districts and scientists participated in this programme.

Devvrat said, “The research has proved that natural farming enhances the fertile strength of the land and protects human health as well.”

He has been encouraging the farmers to switch to natural farming on the basis of his own experience in it. Devvrat remained engaged in organic farming for 25 years and constructive results motivated him to ask the farmers to switch to natural farming.

The Governor said natural farming was based on the rearing of indigenous cow. More than 300 million beneficial bacteria were found in just one gram dung of the indigenous cow, which helped increase soil fertility.

“Various chemicals used for fertilisers initially increase yield, but gradually make the land barren,” he said.