Prime Minister Narendra Modi said fertilizers helped increase production and led to the green revolution but there is a need to keep looking for alternatives.
Gandhinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted the steps taken by the government in the last seven years for the benefit of the farmers, as it enhances the agricultural sector. PM Modi also emphasized the need to adopt natural farming techniques to ensure better produce and longevity of the soil.
PM Modi addressed farmers and scientists across the country on natural and zero-budget farming during the valedictory session of the ongoing National Summit on Agro and Food Processing. The three-day summit, which commenced on December 14, is being held in Gujarat; it has been organized to bring in a focus on natural farming and make farmers aware of its benefits.
“There is no doubt that fertilizers led to the green revolution. But this is also true that we have to keep working on alternatives. The main reason for this is we have to import fertilizers for other countries, which increases the cost of farming. Hence, there is a need to be aware (about natural farming),” PM Modi said while addressing the National Summit on Agro and Food Processing.
He added that farming should be taken out of the chemistry lab and connected with nature’s laboratory.
“Whatever power the fertilizers have can also be found in nature. We just have to explore it,” said PM Modi.
He also lauded the address of Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, who gave details about how natural farming has helped farmers increase their produce manifold in recent years. “Natural farming is based on science,” the Prime Minister added.
He said that though the world has progressed technologically, it has also been connected to its roots and this should be adopted in farming too.
“From seed to soil, you can naturally treat everything. Natural farming does not involve spending on fertilizers or pesticides. It also requires less irrigation and is capable of dealing with floods and droughts,” said PM Modi.
He added that natural farming will help India’s farmers become self-reliant.
The Prime Minister, in outreach to farmers, listed the steps being taken by the government.
“Along with agriculture, farmers are constantly being connected with many alternative sources of income like animal husbandry, beekeeping, fisheries, solar energy, and biofuel. A provision of lakhs of crores has been made to strengthen storage, cold chain, and food processing in villages,” said PM Modi.
Addressing the conclave before PM Modi, the Gujarat governor talked about how earthworms and natural resources like cattle dung, jaggery, and others can lead to an increase in the nutritional content of the soil and result in increased crop production. He also gave a glimpse of the process to make manure naturally.
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