MoS Ranjan bats for promoting natural farming
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 19 2023: The three-day international conference on "Natural farming for Revitalizing Environment & Resilient Agriculture" conducted by Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal concluded on Sunday.

The closing ceremony, which was held at the CAU auditorium, was attended by Union minister of state for external affairs and education Dr RK Ranjan as chief guest.

While addressing the gathering, Dr RK Ranjan said that use of chemical-based fertilisers and pesticides not only reduces the fertility of the soil and harms the environment but also increases the burden on the farmers in purchasing external inputs.

He said that the government of India with a long vision has turned its focus on natural farming by implementing various schemes and programmes like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Bhartiya Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) Yojana and is trying to change the farming pattern of the farmers from chemical to natural farming.

He further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is setting a target of making 3 crore farmers of the country into natural farmers within the next three years.

Moreover, the government will be providing subsidies to the 10,000 bio-input resource centres which are established in different parts of the country, to strengthen the natural farming movement in the country.

The PM also had announced sanctioning of Rs 50 lakh each in every district of the country to create awareness on natural farming in addition to establishing farming club in every school to enable students to understand the benefits of natural farming and make India an organic hub, the union minister said.

He also said that natural farming should be included in higher education as a course for Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes and expressed contentment over the efforts of CAU VC for coming up with a syllabus in this regard.

Presided over by CAU, Imphal vice chancellor Anupam Mishra, the valedictory function was also attended by CCS HAU, Hisar, Haryana VC Dr BR Kamboj; ICAR New Delhi DDG (NRM) Dr Suresh Kumar Chaudhari; CAU Imphal director of Instruction Dr S Basanta; CAU Imphal director of extension education Dr Ph Ranjit Sharma and College of Agriculture, CAU dean Dr Indira Sarangthem as guests of honour.

Comment