IEP Chandigarh, November 24
Haryana Chief Secretary, Sh. Sanjeev Kaushal said that with several schemes running under the leadership of Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal, the state government is making all-out efforts to promote natural farming and encourage more farmers towards it; the result of which is the farmers are now moving towards natural farming from chemical farming.
Directing the officials during a review meeting on natural farming here today, the Chief Secretary said that from time-to-time information is being received about the positive results of natural farming; but so far scientific research papers are not available anywhere on natural farming.
“Haryana will have to take steps in this direction and prepare a scientific research paper on natural farming, in which detailed information about the complete process, time period and results of this method will be available. This work should be implemented soon after taking it up with the vice-chancellor and research director of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University,” said Sh. Kaushal.
Two training centres currently running, three more to come up for natural farming
The Chief Secretary said that natural farming is slowly becoming the need of the hour and with less agricultural input and less cost; the farmers can increase organic production and can also increase their income with this method. He said that the objective of natural farming is to promote chemical-free agriculture, climate-friendly farming in accordance with nature and to establish this method as a sustainable livelihood by reducing environmental and climate pollution.
“For this, the farmers are also being made aware and trained by the state government. At present training is being imparted at two centres – Gurukul, Kurukshetra and Gharaunda, Karnal. Apart from this, three more training centres will soon be set up at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Hameti, Jind and Mangiana, Sirsa, respectively,” he added.
Sh. Kaushal further said that the basic objective of natural farming is to change the food habits and for this; the concept of ‘food as medicine’ has to be adopted, for which natural farming is the only way out. He said that to make the farmers aware about this, natural farming will be done in a demonstration field in every block. So far, such demonstration farms have been prepared in five districts.
Emphasis on training and awareness in first phase for natural farming
It was stated in the meeting that to promote natural farming, the state government had launched a portal in April, 2022, on which farmers willing to adopt natural farming can register themselves. In the first phase for natural farming, more emphasis is being given by the government on training and awareness, so that the farmers can understand this method better.
So far, 2,992 farmers have registered themselves on this portal and 1,201 farmers have given their consent to do natural farming during Rabi season. Apart from this, 3,600 soil samples have also been collected and so far, 405 assistant technical managers (ATMs) and block technical managers (BTMs) with 119 progressive farmers have been trained for natural farming; who will work as master trainers to train other farmers. Not only this, 151 youths have also been trained in this farming method.
Haryana’s new initiative
To promote natural farming in the state, a subsidy of Rs 25,000 is being given on the purchase of an indigenous cow and an assistance of Rs 3,000 is being provided to the farmers for the purchase of 4 drums to prepare Jeevamrut solution. Haryana is the first state in the country to launch such initiatives and not only this, a plan has also been prepared to ensure that natural farming products are packed directly from the farmer’s fields; to prevent any doubt of genuineness of the product for the customers.
Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Smt. Sumita Misra, Director General, Agriculture Department, Sh. Hardeep Singh and other officials were present during the meeting.
