In view of preventing an excess use of chemical fertilisers, the Union Minister for Home and Cooperation, Amit Shah has aimed to motivate at least 50 per cent of the farmers in his Lok Sabha constituency – Gandhinagar to adopt natural ways of farming and give up the use of chemical fertilisers.
The Union Minister, while addressing over 1,000 farmers in his constituency, pointed at the health hazards that the excess use of chemical fertilisers lends up. He said that “India’s farming is heading towards an alarming future. The excess use of chemical fertilisers is gradually making the soil in the country barren. Also, the excess use of chemicals has led the poison to start reaching underground sources of water. Our grains have already become poisonous but if water also becomes poisonous in the next 10-15 years, then the scientists estimate that the number of people suffering from cancer will increase more than 50 per cent. We have to recognise this danger.”
Stating natural farming as the only way to restore the soil’s productivity, he added, “In Gujarat, more than two lakh farmers have changed farming practices and have adopted natural farming in 2.5 lakh hectares in mere two years. This indicates that the farmers of Gujarat have recognised the profits and benefits.”
Urging farmers to launch a “new green revolution” by adopting the natural farming practices, he said that “I have taken a decision as a Member of Parliament that by 2025, at least 50 per cent of the farmers in my constituency will be motivated to adopt natural farming practices.” And for this, he asked the officials to set a target to motivate at least 15 farmers in each village to take up natural farming in Gandhinagar by the end of 2022.
At the event, Shah also unveiled a logo for natural farming for the Gujarat government and alongside inaugurated a mobile application to link Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs), farmers and customers for natural farming products.
