Natural Farming is the need of the hour; Haryana takes initiative in this direction: Shyam Singh Rana

Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh Shyam Singh Rana, emphasized that natural farming has become essential in today’s time, and efforts have already been initiated in Haryana to promote this practice.

He said that there has been a growing interest among farmers in adopting natural farming. This approach will not only help prevent environmental pollution but also preserve soil fertility, ensuring a sustainable supply of nutritious food for human life.

Sh Rana was giving his suggestions today, during a virtual dialogue organized by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Sh Shivraj Singh Chouhan with the Agriculture Ministers of the states, at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi.

He also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi, who, after launching the Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme to provide three installments of Rs 2,000 each per year to farmers for purchasing agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and seeds before the sowing of crops, has now taken another significant step. 

The Prime Minister has announced the launch of the ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan,’ a nationwide campaign set to run from 29 May to 12 June. In Haryana, the Agriculture Department, Horticulture Department, Animal Husbandry Department, and Fisheries Department are actively involved in this campaign.

He informed that the campaign will be conducted in 1,380 villages across 109 blocks in 22 districts of Haryana. To ensure effective implementation, 55 teams have been formed, comprising agricultural scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, along with officials from the Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, and Fisheries Departments. 

As part of the program, farmer seminars will also be organized. To promote awareness about the campaign, three mobile publicity vehicles will be deployed in each district. Agriculture Minister Sh Shyam Singh Rana stated that during the campaign, farmers will be educated on the cultivation of crops such as paddy, millet, moong, jowar, sugarcane, cotton, sunflower, and vegetables. 

Additionally, emphasis will be placed on the rearing of high-yield indigenous breeds like Murrah and Bhadawari buffaloes, as well as Sahiwal, Tharparkar, Gir, and Rathi cows.During the meeting, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Sh Shivraj Singh Chouhan informed the Agriculture Ministers of the states that the ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ is a major initiative by the Central Government aimed at boosting agricultural production. 

He emphasized that this country, its soil, and its farmers belong to all of us, and the collective goal is to make farming a profitable venture. The campaign seeks to increase food grain production, ensure national food security, strengthen reserves of grains, pulses, fruits, and vegetables, and provide nutritious food to the people of the country.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Dr. Raja Sekhar Vundru; Commissioner and Secretary of the Fisheries Department, Smt Amneet P. Kumar; Director General of the Agriculture Department, Sh Rajnarayan Kaushik, along with several other senior officers, were present at the meeting.