“We need not only to re-learn the ancient knowledge of agriculture but also to sharpen it for modern times.
ANDALIB AKHTER / AMN
Acknowledging the important role of chemicals and fertilizers in the Green Revolution, the Prime Minister today emphasized the need for working on its alternatives simultaneously. He warned against the dangers of pesticides and imported fertilizers which lead to increased costs of inputs and also cause damage to health.
Addressing the validicatory function of national conclave on agriculture and food processing virtually, held during the pre-Vibrant Gujarat Summit at Anand , Prime Minister stressed that this is the right time to take big steps before the problems related to agriculture become even worse.
“We have to take our agriculture out of the lab of chemistry and connect it to the lab of nature. When I talk about nature’s laboratory, it is completely science-based”, the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister said today the more modern the world is becoming, the more it is moving towards ‘back to basic’. The Prime Minister said, “It means connecting with your roots. Who understands this better than all of you farmer friends? The more we water the roots, the more the plant grows”, said the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister urged every state, every state government, to come forward to make natural farming a mass movement. In this Amrit Mahotsav, efforts should be made to associate at least one village of every panchayat with natural farming, he insisted.
The Prime Minister remarked that “we need not only to re-learn this ancient knowledge of agriculture but also to sharpen it for modern times. In this direction, we have to do research afresh, mould ancient knowledge into the modern scientific frame”.
The Prime Minister asked to be vigilant about the received wisdom. Citing the prevalent notions of burning crop residue, he said that this happens despite experts having established that by setting fire to the field, the earth loses its fertile capacity. He added that an illusion has also arisen that without chemicals the crop will not be good. Whereas the truth is quite the opposite. Earlier there were no chemicals, but the harvest was good. History of the development of humanity is witness to this, he said. “Along with learning new things, we need to unlearn the wrong practices that have crept into our agriculture”, he said. Modi said institutes like ICAR, agriculture universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras can play a big role in this by taking it beyond papers to practical success.
The Prime Minister said that Zero budget natural farming and the role of technology are crucial in transforming agriculture and agro-based clean energy. Mr. Modi said that more than 8 crore farmers of the country have joined this movement of natural farming. He said that farmers across the country will be beneficial from the outcome of this conclave. The three-day summit is being held at Anand in Gujarat. The pre-Vibrant Gujarat Summit began on Tuesday with a focus on various farm issues.
Prime Minister appealed to the farmers to adopt organic and natural farming in a big way. He said that every state and every state government should come forward to make natural farming the people’s movement. He also appeared to connect at least one village from one panchayat with natural farming on the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Prime Minister Modi said that natural farming will be maximum beneficial to 80 percent of the small farmers, who have less than 2 acres of land. Mr. Modi said that these farmers are spending most of the money on chemicals and fertilisers. Their situation will improve if they adopt natural farming. Mr. Modi said that good crops are not possible without chemicals is a myth and the reality is totally opposite. He said that land is losing its productivity due to burning agricultural waste. He said that heating is spoiling our soil, but we are following this tradition. Prime Minister congratulates the farmers of Gujarat and Gujarat Chief Minister for adopting natural farming.
Addressing the conclave, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the government has been driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for farmers welfare. He said that the Government has been committed towards ensuring an increase in productivity, so that farmers are able to maximise their agricultural potential. He said that the government has initiated several measures to transform and increase farmers’ income. Efforts are underway to promote and support initiatives leading to sustainability of the system, cost reduction, market excess and better value realisation to farmers.
Governor of Gujarat Acharya Devvrat has said that zero budget natural farming is a promising tool to minimise the dependence of farmers on purchased inputs and reduces the cost of agriculture by relying on traditional field based technologies which lead to improve the soil health. Addressing the conclave, he said that Desi Cow and its dung and urine play an important role from which various inputs are made on the farm and provide necessary nutrients to soil.
Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Singh Tomar, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are also present on this occasion. The three day Pre-Vibrant Gujarat Summit Conclave has been attended by more than 5 thousand farmers with thousands others connecting virtually from across the country.