The National Conclave on Natural Farming will be virtually addressed by PM Narendra Modi on December 16, at 11 am. He will address the farmers during the valedictory session of the conclave.
The event will also be attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel at the Sardar Patel Auditorium of Amul at Anand.
The three-day summit, on the theme ‘Agro and Food Processing: Entering a new era of Cooperation Atmanirbhar Krishi’, was inaugurated by Governor Acharya Devvrat on December 14, 2021. It witnessed the signing of MoUs proposing an investment of Rs 2,359 crore in the agriculture sector, including setting up of two ethanol plants with 650 kilo litre per day capacity an agri-green e-commerce project. Other dignitaries in this summit, including Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Khodabhai Rupala launched a website on natural farming.
During the inauguration, the stakeholders of the agricultural sector were urged to turn to organic farming by Devvrat. “If we turn to organic farming, we will be able to protect nature and maintain good health. This is an urgent time to avoid the ill-effects of chemicals,” the governor was quoted as saying in an official release on Tuesday. Stressing on the need for research on natural farming practices, the governor urged scientists to develop easier organic farming methods through new inventions.
The government has been driven by the Prime Minister’s vision for farmer welfare. It has been committed towards ensuring an increase in productivity, so that farmers are able to maximise their agri-potential. Government has initiated several measures to transform agriculture and increase farmers’ income. Efforts are underway to promote and support initiatives leading to sustainability of the system, cost reduction, market access and better value realization to farmers.
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 soil. Other traditional practices such mulching the soil with biomass or keeping the soil covered with green cover round the year, even in the very low water availability situations, ensure sustained productivity even from the first year of adoption.
To emphasise on such strategies and to deliver the message to farmers across the country, the Government of Gujarat is organising the National Conclave on Natural Farming. It is being attended by over 5000 farmers who will be present in the Summit, apart from farmers being connecting Live through Central Institutes of ICAR, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency) network in the States.
