Irabot Foundation pushes through natural farming for self reliance, positive outcomes
Source: The Sangai Express / Nando Waikhom
Imphal, December 26 2023:
In an effort to reduce the adverse impacts of consuming food and vegetables grown using chemical fertilizers and to make Manipuri society self-reliant in terms of food and economy, Irabot Foundation, Manipur (IFM) has been promoting the Natural Farming system in the State.
Reaching far and wide, the civil body has tied up with community leaders and local clubs in the State to revive the old farming system which relies on nature and is free from chemical fertilizers.
Speaking to the Sangai Express, IFM president Khunjamayum Gopen Luwang pointed out that Manipuris, who were once self-sufficient in food and vegetables, have now become dependent on the imported rice and vegetables, which are grown using high amounts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Further expressing concern that the society has become prone to many non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cancer as the price of consuming such chemical fertilizers, Gopen exuded confidence that adopting Natural Farming and Organic Farming would be able to curb this menace.
He also said that the excessive usage of chemical fertilizers in agriculture has drastically declined the soil health as it kills the microbes contained in the soil besides contaminating the water bodies that leads to annihilation of aquatic lives and even extinction of many rare fish species.
Saying that most farmers have now become reluctant to do agriculture in the face of high input costs, the IFM president highlighted that the shortage of chemical fertilizers occurs every year in the State making the farmers run from pillar to post in trying to get a bag of urea.
He opined that Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) which requires no external and commercial input can unravel the farmers' predicament by cutting the production costs and make them self-reliant.
When asked why Natural Farming takes so long in large scale adoption in the State, Gopen explained that there is a thick layer of misconception and skepticism in the minds of farmers that using chemical fertilizers is the only way to enhance productivity and sustainability which is absolutely wrong.
He went on to maintain that the wide adoption of Natural Farming and making it a successful venture requires behavioral change in farmers to shift from chemical based inputs to locally available resources.
While highlighting that the Central Government has augmented the Bhartiya Praktrik Krishi Paddati (BPKP) and formulated National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) scheme from this year onwards, he observed that Manipur will excel in this farming system if the Government, experts and CSOs go in tandem and generate awareness besides holding training and capacity building of farmers.
The IFM president maintained that the CSO will intensify promotion of Natural Farming in the hills and valley in the days to come.
(This article is written under the 3rd Award in the Scientific Journalism Programme of the Public Relations and Media Management Cell, CAU, Imphal.
Dr Indira Thounaojam, Information and Publicity Officer and Head, PRMM Cell, CAU, Imphal can be contacted at [email protected] to know more about this article and related information) .