Natural Farming: Farmers in Himachal Pradesh to Train their Counterparts in Other States

Farmers in Himachal Pradesh, who have successfully done natural farming over the last 3 years and are fully adept in this non-chemical, low-cost & climate-resilient method, will soon be sent as ‘master trainers’ to train farmers in other states of the country.

Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat made the announcement during the Prakritik Kheti Utkrisht Kisan Sammelan organized by the Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana (PK3Y).

"Natural farming will be pushed in India, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Farmers from HP will be groomed as resource persons for training farmers from other states," said Acharya Devvrat.

Devvrat requested that PK3Y officials design a course for master trainers so that they are well-versed in the technique, the preparation of farm inputs, and can effectively respond to issues brought by others in the field.

He praised the Chief Minister, the Agriculture Minister, and other officials involved in natural farming, especially state Project Director and Secretary, Agriculture, Rakesh Kanwar, and PK3Y Executive Director Prof Rajeshwar Chandel, who is now the Vice-Chancellor of the Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, for their dedication to making natural farming a success.

"When I was Governor here, I initiated a push for natural farming and motivated farmers." 50,000 farmers were engaged in natural farming when I left the state to become Governor of Gujarat. "Since then, over 1.20 lakh farmers have adopted this technique," he stated.

Chemical farming, according to Devvrat, is responsible for 24% of climate change. He claimed that natural farming could conserve land, cows, the environment, and water while also increasing farmer income.

He suggested that the State Marketing Board and the PK3Y collaborate to establish a stronger market platform for Himachal Pradesh's natural produce.

According to Agriculture Minister Virender Kanwar, the hill state has marginal and small landholders, who employ more pesticides to boost productivity. This has had a negative impact on soil quality and is also having a negative impact on human health.