Farmers must shift focus from 'chemistry lab experiments' to 'natural farming': PM Modi.
Highlights
- PM addresses farmers in the ongoing summit on natural and zero-budget farming today
- The national 3-day summit on natural farming commenced on December 14
- PM virtually addressed the farmers during a valedictory session
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that in the last seven years the Centre has introduced several reforms in the agricultural sector and urged the farmers to shift their focus from 'chemistry lab experiments' to 'natural farming' methods.
Addressing the summit on natural and zero-budget farming being held in Gujarat through video conference, the Prime Minister said, "In the past 7 years, with 'Beej se leke, bazaar tak' we have introduced several reforms to modernise the Indian Krishi sector with technology and reviving organic ways to protect mother nature."
"The time has come to shift our focus from 'Chemistry lab experiments' to natural farming methods in the agriculture sector to support our environment. We have to take our agriculture out of the lab of chemistry and connect it to the lab of nature. When I talk about nature's laboratory, it is completely science-based," PM Modi said.
He further said that new methods and reforms will help the farmers in bringing positive changes. Highlighting the schemes implemented by the government for the welfare of the farmers, he said, "From soil testing to new seeds, from PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana to increasing the MSP 1.5 times the cost, from building a strong irrigation network to Kisan Rail, the government has taken several steps for the welfare of the farmers."
The three-day summit on natural and zero-budget farming commenced on December 14 and is scheduled to conclude on December 16.
"Zero Budget Natural Farming is a promising tool to minimize the dependence of farmers on purchased inputs and reduces the cost of agriculture by relying on traditional field-based technologies which lead to improved soil health. Desi cow, its dung and urine play an important role from which various inputs are made on the farm and provide necessary nutrients to the soil. Other traditional practices such as mulching the soil with biomass or keeping the soil covered with green cover around the year, even in the very low water availability situations, ensure sustained productivity even from the first year of adoption," PMO had said in a statement earlier.
