indian agriculture: 4 lakh hectare below pure farming now; Niti Aayog to arrange roadmap to scale up: Minister
Tomar, whereas addressing a nationwide workshop on revolutionary agriculture right here, mentioned the necessity of the hour is to do farming that works in concord with nature, reduces the price of manufacturing, ensures good-quality produce and earnings to farmers.
Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, elements of Haryana and Gujarat are step by step adapting to pure farming. Extra farmers will be a part of after seeing the success tales, he mentioned.
Tomar mentioned Niti Aayog will put together a roadmap on pure farming after deliberation with farmers, scientists and agri-varsities’ vice chancellors in right now’s workshop and the ministry will transfer ahead accordingly.
He mentioned some might have “apprehension that manufacturing may decline by shifting to pure farming. Such folks after seeing the success tales of pure farming will be capable of adapt simply.”
Pure farming must be promoted in areas first the place much less or no chemical compounds are utilized in farming, he added.
In accordance with the minister, about 38 lakh hectares have been introduced below natural farming at current. About 4 lakh hectares of space is below pure farming as far as a part of a sub-scheme of the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana.
A central programme is underway to certify farm fields the place no chemical compounds are in use in areas of Nicobar and Ladakh. The centre is pursuing with states to determine such farm fields for certification, he mentioned.
The federal government is engaged on a mission mode to advertise pure farming and even embrace this as a part of a syllabus in agri unversities, he added.
Citing causes for the necessity to shift to pure farming, the minister mentioned though chemical farming — launched throughout Inexperienced Revolution within the Fifties — has positively helped in turning a meals deficit nation to a surplus however this methodology of farming has affected soil fertiliser, water and world warming.
“Chemical farming has helped improve manufacturing however there are limitations. Farmers might earn revenue however they’re below stress with use of upper amount of fertilizers and water consumption,” Tomar mentioned.
The dangerous affect of chemical farming is such that Punjab farmers promote their produce to others however by no means devour themselves, he mentioned and burdened the necessity to change the cropping sample that works in concord with nature.
Stating that the federal government is dedicated to addressing the challenges posing the farm sector, the minister mentioned various strategies of farming particularly pure farming are being promoted as a result of India must maintain agriculture as a big proportion of the nation’s inhabitants continues to be depending on farming for its livelihood.
Union Minister for Fisheries, Dairying and Animal Husbandry Purushottam Rupala mentioned a brand new demand for high quality produce has emerged throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and farmers have to pay attention to this and develop accordingly.
He welcomed a suggestion to advertise pure farming in areas the place no or much less chemical compounds are used, whereas additionally burdened on the branding of commodities produced in pure farming.
Sharing the success tales of pure farming, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat urged farmers to not get “discouraged and confused” about pure farming.
He mentioned manufacturing will come down within the first 12 months of pure farming however bills and water consumption will stay decrease. This will even assist develop higher high quality produce that can fetch fee out there.
Devvrat shared how a big farmer in Gujarat step by step shifted to pure farming from 5 acres to 50 acres and now planning on 400 acres. He additionally shared how a horticulture secretary in Himachal Pradesh authorities shifted efficiently to pure farming for rising apples.
Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant mentioned there’s a want to grasp the challenges going through the farm sector amid local weather change, decrease crop yields, excessive use of water, and imbalanced use of chemical compounds and fertilisers.
“A brand new revolution is critical. Pure farming is the necessity of the hour. It’s as a result of because of the Inexperienced Revolution, price of manufacturing has gone up and water use effectivity has remained decrease,” he mentioned.
There’s a have to convey a social motion for selling pure farming in a scientific method amongst farmers, he added.
Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand mentioned the chemical farming that has been adopted since Inexperienced Revolution has posed a number of challenges and subsequently various strategies are being thought of.
Some might name it non-chemical or pure farming or zero price range farming or natural farming — these completely different strategies of farming have been experimented. These strategies should be synthesized and moved ahead, he mentioned.
Chand mentioned there’s a want to present an opportunity to pure farming because the time is ripe to do this methodology. “The nation will not be going through any meals safety menace, we can provide an opportunity to this methodology of farming,” he mentioned.
About 6 per cent of space within the nation use no chemical compounds and this space might be focused for selling pure farming. There are additionally some districts the place use of chemical compounds is lower than 5 kg, these may also be promoted, he mentioned.
A street map can be ready taking leads from the dialogue within the nationwide workshop, he added.
