Governor Acharya Devvrat has called upon the farmers to adopt natural farming with dedication and sincerity to increase the soil fertility and production. He was addressing the farmer's meet under Prakritik Kheti, Khushhal Kisan scheme on Subhash Palekar model of natural farming in Dr. YS Parmar Horticulture and Forestry University, Nauni in district Solan on Friday.More than 800 farmers of Solan, Shimla, Bilaspur, Sirmour and Una districts and scientists participated in this meet.Acharya Devvrat said that 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 in this direction on the basis of his own experience in natural farming. He remained engaged in organic farming for 25 years and the constructive results motivated him to invite the farmers to opt natural farming. The Governor said that the natural farming is based on rearing of indigenous cow. More than 300 million beneficial bacteria are found in just one gram dung of the indigenous cow which increases the soil fertility.He said that various types of chemicals being used for fertilizers initially increase yield but gradually make the land barren. He urged the farmers to adopt the method of natural farming promoted by Padmasri Dr. Subhash Palekar which is economically beneficial and water requirement is also very less. He said that planning is also being done for marketing of the natural agricultural products.The Governor said that the chemical fertilizers are resulting in deadly diseases like cancer. According to a research, the number of cancer patients in the last one and a half years has increased by 25 percent.
Acharya Devvrat said that the state government is going to make a provision for encouraging the farmers for rearing of domestic cow. They will be given a subsidy of 25 thousand rupees for purchasing indigenous cow. He said that indigenous cow will also be helpful in farming as well as strengthening farmers economy.Vice Chancellor of the university Dr. HC Sharma welcomed the Governor.Project Director, zero budget natural farming Rakesh Kanwar said that this first farmer's discourse has been initiated in the state in terms of natural farming. and such more discussions will be held across the state. He said that out of 80 development blocks of the state, farmers of the 79 development blocks are engaged in natural farming. Recently, the Deputy Chairman of the Niti Ayog Dr. Rajiv Kumar has decided to convene a meeting of all the states to implement natural farming throughout the country. It has also been decided to provide funds for natural farming under different agricultural schemes of the Central government.
Brahma Das from Bilaspur, Anil Chauhan from Rohru, Sandeep Sharma from Theog, Harinder Singh from Nahan, Jaswinder Kaur from Paonta Sahib, Manjeet Singh from Una, Shyam Lal from Nalagarh, Raksha Devi from Lodhimajra of Baddi and Sher Singh of Gmabharpul, all engaged in natural farming, shared their experiences.A short documentary on natural farming was also presented on this occasion.Executive Director, zero budget natural farming Dr. Rajeshwar Chandel, Director Agriculture Deshraj Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Solan Vinod Kumar, SP Madhusudan Sharma were also present on this occasion.