Private universities to adopt zero budget natural farming system model
5 Dariya News
Shimla 18-Sep-2018
The private universities of the State, who have their separate Department of Agriculture, will also adopt the model of zero budget natural farming system and train the students about this method of agriculture on the call of Governor Acharya Devvrat. This is for the first time that private universities have come forward in showing their interest in agriculture related activities and promoting zero budget natural farming in the state.The decision was taken in a meeting held here at Raj Bhawan today under the chairmanship of Governor Acharya Devvrat with the Chancellors of four private universities of the state on the initiative taken by the Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institution Regulatory Commission.The meeting was attended by Prof A.S. Guleria, Vice Chancellor of Abhilashi University, Mandi, Brig. Subhash Katoch, Dean, Baddi University, Dr. Naveen Gupta, Chancellor, IEC University, Baddi, Brig. Sansar Verma, Vice-Chancellor, Arni University and Dr. S.P. Katyal, Member, Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institution Regulatory Commission.The Governor said that the latest reports of agricultural university Palampur, horticulture university Nauni and Gurukul farm, Kurukshetra have revealed that the organic carbon increased by adopting natural farming, which was based on the Indian breed cow and it was quite difficult to estimate excessive number of beneficial micro organisms.
He informed that by adopting natural farming in Gurukul farm, the quantity of organic carbon reached point 9 per acre, which earlier was point 3. In addition, 25 to 30 quintals of paddy cultivation per acre was being done which was big surprise even to the agricultural scientists.Referring to the study conducted on GIZ, India by the 'Intact Consortium' in Guntur of Andhra Pradesh, he said that a study on chilli and cotton has shown that the farmers obtained Rs. 50 thousand per acre by adopting chemical farming, whereas Rs. 68 thousand from organic farming and Rs. 96 thousand per acre from natural farming. This report shows the benefits of zero budget natural farming system itself, and if the private universities, running the agriculture department, come forward in this direction, it would get good results by connecting the students with this method.On the request of the VCs, the Governor assured to provide them Indian breed cows and also advised them to send their specialists to Gurukul, Kurukshetra for related information. He said that the state government was working in this direction and training camps were being organized at the village level across the state. In this important mission, not only farmers, NCC, NSS and college students were being associated so that they could be helpful in promoting natural farming.The Governor also gave detailed information about the natural farming and its benefits.The VCs showed great enthusiasm for adopting this method of agriculture..Dr. Shashikant Sharma, Advisor to the Governor was also present in the meeting.