Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday stated about 4 lakh hectare has been introduced beneath pure farming as far as a part of a sub-scheme of the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana and think-tank Niti Aayog will put together a roadmap to scale this up.
Tomar, whereas addressing a nationwide workshop on modern agriculture right here, stated the necessity of the hour is to do farming that works in concord with nature, reduces the price of manufacturing, ensures good-quality produce and income to farmers.
Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, components of Haryana and Gujarat are step by step adapting to pure farming. More farmers will be part of after seeing the success tales, he stated.
Tomar stated Niti Aayog will put together a roadmap on pure farming after deliberation with farmers, scientists and agri-varsities’ vice chancellors in right this moment’s workshop and the ministry will transfer ahead accordingly.
He stated some might have “apprehension that production might decline by shifting to natural farming. Such people after seeing the success stories of natural farming will be able to adapt easily.” Natural farming needs to be promoted in areas first the place much less or no chemical compounds are utilized in farming, he added.
According to the minister, about 38 lakh hectares have been introduced beneath natural farming at current. About 4 lakh hectares of space is beneath pure farming as far as a part of a sub-scheme of the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana.
A central programme is underway to certify farm fields the place no chemical compounds are in use in areas of Nicobar and Ladakh. The centre is pursuing with states to determine such farm fields for certification, he stated.
The authorities is engaged on a mission mode to advertise pure farming and even embrace this as a part of a syllabus in agri unversities, he added.
Citing causes for the necessity to shift to pure farming, the minister stated though chemical farming — launched throughout Green Revolution within the Nineteen Fifties — has undoubtedly helped in turning a meals deficit nation to a surplus however this methodology of farming has affected soil fertiliser, water and international warming.
“Chemical farming has helped increase production but there are limitations. Farmers may earn income but they are under stress with use of higher quantity of fertilizers and water consumption,” Tomar stated.
The dangerous influence of chemical farming is such that Punjab farmers promote their produce to others however by no means eat themselves, he stated and burdened the necessity to change the cropping sample that works in concord with nature.
Stating that the federal government is dedicated to addressing the challenges posing the farm sector, the minister stated different strategies of farming particularly pure farming are being promoted as a result of India must maintain agriculture as a big share of the nation’s inhabitants remains to be depending on farming for its livelihood.
Union Minister for Fisheries, Dairying and Animal Husbandry Purushottam Rupala stated a brand new demand for high quality produce has emerged throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and farmers must be aware of this and develop accordingly.
He welcomed a suggestion to advertise pure farming in areas the place no or much less chemical compounds are used, whereas additionally burdened on the branding of commodities produced in pure farming.
Sharing the success tales of pure farming, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat urged farmers to not get “discouraged and confused” about pure farming.
He stated manufacturing will come down within the first 12 months of pure farming however bills and water consumption will stay decrease. This may even assist develop higher high quality produce that may fetch a very good fee out there.
Devvrat shared how a big farmer in Gujarat step by step shifted to pure farming from 5 acres to 50 acres and now planning on 400 acres. He additionally shared how a horticulture secretary in Himachal Pradesh authorities shifted efficiently to pure farming for rising apples.
Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant stated there’s a want to know the challenges dealing with the farm sector amid local weather change, decrease crop yields, excessive use of water, and imbalanced use of chemical compounds and fertilisers.
“A new revolution is necessary. Natural farming is the need of the hour. It is because due to the Green Revolution, cost of production has gone up and water use efficiency has remained lower,” he stated.
There is a must carry a social motion for selling pure farming in a scientific method amongst farmers, he added.
Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand stated the chemical farming that has been adopted since Green Revolution has posed a number of challenges and due to this fact different strategies are being thought of.
Some might name it non-chemical or pure farming or zero funds farming or natural farming — these completely different strategies of farming have been experimented. These strategies must be synthesized and moved ahead, he stated.
Chand stated there’s a want to provide an opportunity to pure farming because the time is ripe to do that methodology. “The country is not facing any food security threat, we can give a chance to this method of farming,” he stated.
About 6 per cent of space within the nation use no chemical compounds and this space might be focused for selling pure farming. There are additionally some districts the place use of chemical compounds is lower than 5 kg, these will also be promoted, he stated.
A highway map might be ready taking leads from the dialogue within the nationwide workshop, he added.
Source: www.financialexpress.com”