Natural farming, a mass mission to save our planet : CM Chouhan
Wednesday - May 18, 2022 11:13 pm ,
Category : BHOPAL
It is a transformative change from chemical lab-dependent farming to natural farming
Natural farming crop yield in high demand globally
Fruits, vegetables and foodgrains are more palatable and enriched with nutrients
Chief Minister Chouhan addresses a seminar on natural farming
Bhopal 18 May 2022: Giving a fresh push to the zero budget natural farming, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday called for transformative change toward sustainable agriculture and food systems based on natural farming. Terming natural farming a mass mission to save our earth, environment and human life, the chief minister said it simply takes full advantage of nature’s assets, drawn from the farm itself and surrounding ecosystems, to grow food. Chief Minister Chouhan was addressing virtually a farmers' seminar on natural farming from his residence. The seminar was organised at Nasrullaganj in Sehore district.
He said, natural farming is a way to end reliance of farming onchemistry labs and takes farmers to natural lab. It promotes chemical-free agricultural practices and ensures more profit in low input cost.
Narrating demerits of large-scale, chemical-dependent farm practices that have contribution to soil erosion, climate change and public health, the chief minister urged farmers to adopt natural farming to phase out use of chemical fertilisers as they adversely affect soil health which is deteriorating at fast pace.
Farm-friendly insect friends like earthworms have reached near extinction as a result fertility of the earth has eroded to an alarming degree, he pointed out. The chief minister further said crops like wheat, paddy, cereals, fruits, vegetables etc. are being produced by use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides that pose serious health risks and trigger various diseases among humans.
Expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the chief minister said, “We are all grateful to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his campaign to promote natural farming.”
Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ajit Kesari was also present on the occasion. Kewal Swaroop Swami ji of Neelkanth Dham Poicha of Gujarat was guest of honour on the occasion. With a view to promoting zero budget natural farming, similar seminars are being organized in 17 districts of the state.Also, the government has organised similar natural farming extension programmes in all the districts of the state. Chief Minister Chouhan further said that excessive use of fertilisers and chemicals to augment more farm yield has adversely affected the soil fertility.
The chief minister pointed out that entry of harmful chemicals in human body is a prime reason for occurrence of diseases like cancer. Also, use of chemicals and pesticides has adversely affected water quality. He laid stress on installing some traits that allow crops to thrive and said it is our moral responsibility to pass better soil and environment to our future generation. And, this is possible only through natural farming. Chief Minister Chouhan said that the Governor of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat ji is particularly active in this mission.
Natural farming does not reduce production either. Citing names of pillars like Jeevamrut (nectar of life), Ghan Jeevamrit on which natural farm practices is based,the chief minister said these are harmless for farming, their use increases the nutritional value and palatability of crops like wheat, paddy, cereals, fruits, and vegetables.
The crop yield produced from natural farming is in high demand all over the world, as a result the farmer can fetch better prices against their farm yield; fruits, vegetables, grains etc.
Chief Minister Chouhan said since no chemical fertiliser nor pesticide is used in natural farming, the input cost of natural farming is low and income is high.
No artificial ingredients are used in natural farming either. As a result, the soil balance is maintained and the water holding capacity of the soil increases further.
Also, he said, natural farming requires less water for irrigation, less power is consumed. Interestingly use of cow dung and cow urine plays prime role in natural farming, he added and reiterated, which is why state government will provide Rs 900 per month for farmers of the state to meet expenses on cows.
Chief Minister Chouhan appealed to all the farmers to spare an area of their fields for natural farming. Chief Minister Chouhan also said that he himself will start taking crop from this Kharif crop from an area of five acres through natural farming. Among distinguished guests, who were present from Nasrullaganj included; Guruprasad Sharma, Ravi Malviya and Deputy Director Agriculture PB Khistaria – Window to News
