UP CM Yogi Adityanath pushes for cow-based natural farming to boost farmers’ income
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that adopting cow-based natural farming can help farmers significantly enhance their incomes, saving them Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per acre.
In a recent event, the chief minister emphasised the benefits of cow-based natural farming and noted that if a majority of the state’s farmers adopt natural farming, the cumulative savings would be enormous.
“Cow-based farming goes beyond spiritual and cultural values. It offers multiple advantages, such as reduced agricultural costs, conservation and promotion of cattle, and long-term improvements in soil, water, and human health,” Adityanath said.
Notably, farming primarily relies on seeds and fertilisers, which are major expenses. Uttar Pradesh produces only about half of the seeds it requires, sourcing the rest from other states, especially from southern India, at a significant cost to the government.
Regarding fertilisers, India spends a large amount of foreign currency on imports. According to the central government data, about 15 to 20 per cent of the most in-demand urea is still supplied through imports. For phosphatic fertilisers and potash, India remains heavily dependent on foreign imports.
Being an agriculture-based country, India’s demand often leads exporting nations to increase prices. Data shows that in 2023-2024, India imported urea worth Rs 2,127 crore, excluding other fertilisers.
According to the experts, adopting cow-based natural farming could be a key and effective way to save valuable foreign currency for both the state and the nation.
Given its agricultural traditions, Uttar Pradesh holds immense potential for this practice as the state 2.78 crore farmers and around 2 crore cattle.
Cow Service Commission chairman Shyam Bihari Gupta said that if every farmer keeps just one cow, several issues could be resolved naturally.
Experts say that the dung and urine from one cow, when processed, can support farming over an area of approximately four acres.
According to a UP government official, the present regime in the state aims to make every cow shelter self-sufficient for which shelters are being developed as training centres for cow-based natural farming and other products.
The government also plans to establish universities dedicated to natural farming in the state to combine traditional knowledge with modern techniques.
“To encourage more farmers to adopt natural farming, the government is providing financial support to selected farmers for three years. The financial assistance is Rs 4,800 in the first year, Rs 4,000 in the second year, and Rs 3,600 in the third,” the official said.
He added that additional grants are provided for cattle sheds and biogas plants. Separate outlets for these producers have been created at the divisional headquarters, and the government is also emphasising product certification.
“Organic products are beneficial for health, and after Covid, there has been an increased awareness about health. Various research institutions predict that people are now prioritising regional flavours and products when choosing food,” said the official.
