Yogi Adityanath Plans to Make a Big Push for Natural Farming in UP

On Monday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that the Central government has approved 82.83 crores for the state to promote natural farming and innovative agriculture practices in 35 districts through the centrally funded Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati scheme.

Yogi Adityanath added that the scheme would cover approximately 38,670 hectares and would be implemented for three years beginning with the Kharif season this year. Yogi was virtually delivering a speech at a one-day national workshop on cow-based natural farming and innovative agriculture as part of the Niti Aayog's "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav."

He mentioned how the state's Bundelkhand region has traditionally practiced natural farming in various forms. To further promote such practices, the chief minister proposed establishing clusters of 500 to 1000 hectares in all 47 development blocks of all seven districts of the Bundelkhand region.

"A total of 47,000 hectares will be targeted over the next five years at a cost of 175.46 crores, benefiting 1.17 lakh farmers," Yogi Adityanath stated.    

Yogi Adityanath emphasized the importance of natural farming, saying that, in addition to increasing production, the objectives of increasing farmer income, conservation of natural resources, environmental conservation, and providing proper nutrition to nurture human health had to be met. According to him, one way to achieve these goals is through cow-based natural farming.

"Natural farming based on cows means low-cost, toxin-free farming." The rural economy is heavily reliant on 'gau vansh' (cattle). "As agriculture becomes more mechanized, the value of bullocks in the farm economy has become clear," Yogi Adityanath said.

He also stated that implementing cow-based natural farming in the state would aid in the protection and promotion of 'gau-vansh.' He added that using crop residue in natural farming and mulching would help reduce stubble burning.

He went on to say, "A campaign has been launched to promote natural farming within a 10-kilometer radius of the Ganga." "On January 22, 2020, a one-day training on cow-based natural farming was organized at Chandrashekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology," he said.

Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister, proposed raising the incentive to farmers for natural farming to parity with the PKVY (Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana) incentive of 31,000 per hectare.

The chief minister also stated that one of the most difficult aspects of organic or natural farming is product value addition and marketing. "It is suggested that the scheme guidelines include a budget for branding and marketing activities," he said.

During the scheme's implementation period, he said, it was necessary to assess soil health and the presence of organic carbon before sowing and after harvesting.

"As a result, an appropriate budget for carrying out these soil tests may be incorporated into the scheme guidelines," the chief minister said. Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Parshottam Rupala, Gujarat governor Acharya Devvrat, and NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar were among those who attended the workshop.