Gujarat Governor Sh. Acharya Devvrat said that dedicated efforts are essential to take the Natural Farming Mission forward. He cautioned that if adequate attention is not given to this issue, agricultural land could eventually become barren.
He was addressing an “Agriculture Workshop” organised in Kurukshetra under the Natural Farming Promotion and Cluster Formation Programme of the Haryana Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini and Agriculture Minister Sh. Shyam Singh Rana were also present on the occasion.
Governor Sh. Acharya Devvrat emphasized that natural farming has now become one of the country's most pressing needs. Recalling the period after Independence, he said agricultural scientists had recommended the use of 13 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare to achieve food self-sufficiency.
In contrast, farmers today use as many as 13 bags of chemical fertilizers per acre. Along with the increasing use of urea, DAP, and pesticides, there has also been a rise in serious diseases.
He stressed that merely increasing the use of chemical fertilizers would not lead to sustainable growth in agricultural production. Instead, improving soil fertility through natural farming is essential. The Governor said that training plays a crucial role in motivating and encouraging farmers to adopt natural farming practices.
He urged all Agriculture Department officials and agricultural scientists from state universities to support this mission. He also appreciated the Haryana Government’s efforts in organizing training programmes for farmers.
He further stated that under the guidance of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, the entire country is becoming increasingly interested in learning about and adopting natural farming, and Haryana should play a leading role in this movement. Addressing the farmers present at the workshop, he posed a series of questions: Will we leave barren land for our children?
Will we leave them polluted air and contaminated water? Will we leave future generations burdened with serious diseases? Will we allow farmers to remain trapped in debt? He said that if society wishes to change this situation, adopting natural farming is imperative.
The Governor warned that excessive use of chemical fertilizers is continuously reducing soil fertility, and the organic carbon content in the country's soil has fallen to critically low levels, pushing agricultural land toward barrenness. He said that unless corrective measures are taken in time, future generations may be deprived of both pure food and safe drinking water.
Referring to the adverse effects of chemical farming, he said it is contributing to environmental pollution, contaminating water sources, and increasing the incidence of diseases such as cancer, heart ailments, and kidney failure. Presenting natural farming as the solution, he said it is an indigenous cow-based, low-cost, and environmentally friendly farming system.
Through the use of simple inputs such as cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, and gram flour, beneficial microorganisms can be cultivated to improve soil fertility. Sh. Acharya Devvrat stated that natural farming is the only viable option capable of addressing these challenges.
He urged farmers to begin natural farming even on a small portion of their land and gradually expand its adoption.