In the present day scenario, crop yield is declining day by day despite continuous increase in use of fertilizers and pesticides by farmers to enhance production. The inputs in chemical farming not only add to the cost of crops but also destroy the quality of soil. Excess use of chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers has led to entry of harmful compounds in the food chain along with adverse impact on ecology.In time of unpredictable climate and rising cost on inputs of chemicals, organic farming, is the right option available with the farmers. In order to minimize farming cost and promote natural farming in the state, the government has decided to bring 20,000 hectares of land under natural farming by 2020-21. Thousands of farmers have adopted natural farming in the state and reaping benefits. Farmers of Sirmaur have also shown keen interest in natural and organic farming.In view of the nationwide lockdown and curfew imposed due to coronavirus, the District Administration Sirmaur has launched another unique initiative under which the city residents are being encouraged to utilize their time to grow vegetables by adopting organic farming near their homes. This initiative of district administration has also been appreciated by people.The Department of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry have put up a special stall at the historic Chaugan Maidan of Nahan where 'seed kits' of various vegetables are being provided to people by the volunteers of Aravalli Organization along with vermicompost and cowdung logs. Under this initiative of District Administration, more than 1200 seed kits have so far been made available to people. This seed kit contains seeds of six types of vegetables such as ladyfinger, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, maize, french bean and sponge gourd. A kit of vegetable seeds worth Rs. 25 is available at this special stall for just Rs. 10.
Apart from this, people are also being informed about the method of making vermicompost from the waste coming out of the houses and cultivation methods by utilizing empty plastic bottles, pots, buckets and empty bags.Vermicompost and cowdung logs are also being provided by the Animal Husbandry Department at this stall. People can do organic farming by using vermicompost prepared in their homes besides they can also get rid of flies and mosquitoes during the rainy season by burning cowdung logs.In order to ensure that the farmers do not face any difficulty during the lockdown, the District Administration had started a Kisan Helpline in which the numbers of senior officials of the Agriculture Department of the district have been given so that the farmers can communicate directly with them for solution of their problems. Under this helpline, more than 2000 calls have so far been received regarding different problems being faced by farmers, which have been resolved by the officials of the department.Farmers face different types of problems in agricultural production such as adverse weather for crops, destructive pest attacks, plant disease infection, immunity degradation, soil eroding fertile power, quality irrigation, lack of water and changing market environment for which the District Administration has started this Kisan Helpline so that agricultural productivity of farmers crop can be increased and they get right information and advice related to agriculture.
The Kisan Helpline has contact number of senior officials of Agriculture Department including Dr. Rajesh Kaushik, Deputy Director Agriculture District Sirmaur Mobile No. 94184-76092 and Telephone No. 01702-222225, Dr. Pawan Kumar, District Agricultural Officer Nahan 85804-37173 and 01702-222225, Ramesh Chand, Project Deputy Director, ATMA, Nahan 94184-78012 and 01702-223746, Baldev Singh Prashar, Subject Matter Specialist, (Agriculture) Development Block Nahan 94180-62576 and 01702-222057, Ram Nath, Subject Matter Specialist, (Agriculture) Development Block Paonta Sahib 82196-63716 and 01702-223224, Pyare Lal, Subject Matter Specialist, (Agriculture) Development Block Pachhad 98051 -24089 and 01799-236064, Virender Kumar Attri, Subject Matter Specialist, (Agriculture) Development Block Rajgarh 94590-21189 and 01799-221046, Anup Katna, Subject Matter Specialist, (Agriculture) Development Block Sangrah 94181-32340 and 01702-248013, Ram Nath, Subject Matter Specialist, (Agriculture) Development Block, Shillai 82196-63716 and 01702-278543, Raj Kumar, Secretary, Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee, Paonta Sahib 94596-64000 and 01704-222381, Sahab Singh, Sub Divisional Soil Conservation Officer, Paonta Sahib 70185-39321 and 01704-222476 and Virender Kumar Attri, Sub Divisional Soil Conservation, Rajgarh, 94590-21189 and 01799-221230. Farmers can contact on the helpline numbers between 11 am to 1 PM from Monday to Saturday to get right information and advice related to agriculture.