Shah urges Uttarakhand farmers to move towards organic farming
Hime Minister Amit Shah also linked the rise in diseases like cancer, thyroid issues, and diabetes to the increased use of chemical fertilisers in agriculture.
Union Home Ministrer Amit Shah (File Photo)
Union Minister of Home and Cooperation Amit Shah Friday urged Uttarakhand farmers to adopt organic farming. He was speaking on the occasion of signing of an MoU between National Co-operative Organics Ltd (NCOL) and Uttarakhand Jaivik Utpad Parishad for procurement of organic cereals to provide better rates to farmers for their produce.
“I also request the farmers of Uttarakhand to keep their fields clean, make them purely organic and move towards natural farming… If Uttarakhand becomes 100 per cent organic, there may not be a requirement for testing centres. I believe, even chemical fertiliser shops will be shut down,” Shah said.
He also linked the rise in diseases like cancer, thyroid issues, and diabetes to the increased use of chemical fertilisers in agriculture. Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a goal of doubling farmers’ income, of which one of the points was to increase income through organic farming. Shah said that chemical fertilizers not only affect human health but also have an impact on farm land. Due to excessive use of fertilizers, the soil loses its fertility, he said. Shah said that when the BJP mentioned organic farming in its manifesto, many observers were surprised. “They even asked why organic farming found a place in the BJP’s manifesto,” Shah said.
Shah said NCOL, set up to address gaps in the organic farming sector, plans to establish a network of testing labs in collaboration with Amul. These labs will verify both organic farms and produce, aiming to create trusted ‘Bharat’ organic brands.
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