Governor Acharya Devvrat today called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and apprised the Prime Minister about reports based on the samples taken by the scientists of Agriculture University, Hisar and Agriculture Research Council, Modipuram on Zero Budget Natural Farming (2BNF) of Gurukul Kurukshetra farm.The latest report of agriculture scientists has come at a time when the Governor is campaigning for natural farming across North India including Himachal Pradesh. He has linked the Prime Minister's announcement of doubling the income of the farmers to this campaign and has taken natural farming as its best option.Acharya Devvrat told the Prime Minister that in the year 2018, soil samples of the farms of Gurukul Kurukshetra were examined in the laboratory of Agricultural University, Hisar and it has found that quantity of organic carbon increased from 0.82 to 1.12 percent in 18 of the 19 samples. In 2017, scientists of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Modipuram, sampled 16 fields from the farm of Gurukul Kurukshetra, of which more than 69 percent of biological carbon was found, he added and said that in the year 2017, the average biological carbon was found 0.61% in the examination conducted at Agricultural University, Hisar and Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Modipuram. He apprised that this year according to University reports it have been increased to 0.91 (33 percent more), which was an incredible growth.
The Governor said that it has also been found that the increase in the percentage of phosphorus and potash has almost doubled. He said that in the report, it has been found that in the year 2018, compared to the year 2017, micro nutrient zinc increased by 32 percent, iron element 27 percent, 31 percent coppers and 114 percent manganese. He told that agricultural scientists had also taken samples from other parts of the district for soil testing but not even a single sample was found where the amount of biological carbon is more than 0.75 percent. The Governor said that by adopting ZBNF on nearly 200 acres of agricultural land in Gurukul Kurukshetra for last three years has brought a revolutionary change in the land, which has been confirmed by this report of agricultural scientists.He also briefed about the development of natural farming in Himachal Pradesh and apprised him the good initiative taken by the State Government to promote natural farming in the state. He also discussed about his social campaigns like cleanliness campaign plantation and drive against drug etc.Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated the move of Governor in the direction of natural farming and hoped that this method of natural farming would be helpful in doubling the income of farmers. He advised for more publicity and urged other states to adopt natural farming for the welfare of farm community. He also praised for making cleanliness drive more effective in the state and particularly pointed out the event organized at railway track in Shimla and suggested that in the second phase plant and flower nurseries should be set up along the track so that beside beautification, the sale of plants so produced would be helpful in increasing the income of railways.