Biswajit bats for organic products
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 05 2022:
Forest and Environment Minister Thongam Biswajit has urged farmers to adopt natural farming and produce organic products.
Natural and organic farming will also improve soil health, he said.
The Minister was speaking at the World Soil Day, organised by the Directorate of Agriculture at the Farmers' Training Hall at Sanjenthong to observe World Soil Day today.
The World Soil Day this year is observed under the theme "Soils: Where Food begins".
Soil health cards were also distributed to farmers from districts across the State as part of the event.
Th Biswajit, who attended the observance as chief guest said the use of fertilizers to increase yield not only harms the soil but also causes harm to humans who consume the produce.
He stated that the use of chemical fertilizers is bad for health and encouraged fanners to adopt other available healthy approaches to farming.
Farmers can shun the dependence on chemical fertilizers.
Instead they can rely on vermicompost.
Farmers can develop low cost small units of vermicompost at their fields to produce organic products.
Natural and organic farming also enhances soil fertility.
Consuming organic products is also healthy.
Therefore, farmers should adopt organic farming, he said.
He also formed that the Agriculture Department is taking up effort to install soil testing laboratories in districts.
After harvesting, paddy stalks are generally wasted.
These can also be used to benefit the farmers.
The paddy stalks can be used in producing compost.
They can also sell it, he said.
To raise awareness on soil health to farmers across the State, he said the World Soil Day should be observed in all districts.
Agriculture Commissioner RK Dinesh, who attended the event as president said the use of Urea reduces soil fertility.
More than 1 lakh hectares of fields in the valley areas are acidic.
Fertilizers should be used in the right quantity by determining the soil profile and health first.
Use of fertilizers without testing the soil may give adverse results.
Soil testing is a must to manage and improve soil health.
For successful harvest and to increase their yield, farmers should always go for soil testing, he added.
Agriculture Director N Gojendro said, "Soil is the source of food we consume to survive.
Reduced soil fertility means food production will decrease.
This will ultimately threaten our survival".
In 5 years, as much as 20 percent of the agricultural land in India will become non-cultivable land.
In 20 years, 40 percent of the land will turn to non-cultivable land.
In another 40 years, 60 percent of cultivable area will be lost.
Ultimately, there will be food crises and India will not be able to feed about 1.25 billion people, he added.
Soil health is most important for human survival.
As such, farmers and all stakeholders should work towards enhancing soil health, he said.
Additional Director of Agriculture Todinang Panmei attended the observance as guest of honour.