“Surat Model of Natural Farming can Become a Model for the Entire Country”, PM Modi

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi while addressing the Natural Farming Conclave in Surat, Gujarat via video conferencing on 10 July 2022 said that today’s programme is an indication of how Gujarat is leading the country’s resolution of achieving the goals of the Amrit Kaal.

He said “Success of Surat in connecting 75 farmers in every panchayat with natural farming is going to become an example for the entire country”. He highlighted the role of Sarpanches and congratulated the farmers for moving ahead in the direction of a natural way of farming.

Modi said, “In connection with 75 years of independence, the country has started working on many goals which will become the basis for major changes in the times to come. The basis of progress and speed of the country is the spirit of  ‘Sabka Prayas’, which is leading this development journey of ours.” That is why the Gram Panchayats have been given a key role in the welfare projects for the poor and the deprived, he added.

The Prime Minister went on saying that the local bodies played a big role in selecting 75 farmers from every panchayat and hand-holded them with training and other resources. 

This has led to a situation where over 40000 farmers in 550 panchayats are involved in natural farming. The Surat Model of natural farming can become a model for the entire country, he said.

Modi emphasized “at the basis of our life, our health, our society is our agriculture system. India has been an agriculture-based country by nature and culture. Hence, as our farmer progresses, as our agriculture progresses and prospers, so will our country progress.” 

He reminded the annadatta’s that natural farming  is a means of prosperity as well as respecting and serving our mother earth adding that “When you do natural farming, you serve Mother Earth, protect the quality of the soil, its productivity. When you do natural farming you are serving nature and the environment. When you join natural farming, you also get the privilege of serving Gaumata”.

He also talked about the measures taken by the government to promote natural farming in the form of schemes like  ‘Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Scheme’ that are providing resources and training for traditional farming. 30000 clusters have been developed all over the country under the scheme for the benefit of the lakhs of farmers. 10 lakh hectares will be covered under the ‘Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Scheme’.

PM Modi informed about the quality assurance system for certification of produce of natural farming. He also said that certified products are fetching good prices when farmers export them.

As part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Modi in his address at Gujarat Panchayat Mahasammelan in March, 2022 had urged at least 75 farmers in each village to adopt the Natural way of farming. 

Guided by this vision of Prime Minister, Surat undertook a concerted and coordinated effort to sensitise & motivate different stakeholders & institutions such as farmer groups, elected representatives, talathis, Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs),  Cooperatives, Banks etc, to help farmers in adopting Natural Farming. Therefore, at least 75 farmers were identified in each Gram Panchayat and were motivated and trained to undertake Natural Farming. The farmers were trained in 90 different clusters resulting in the training of more than 41,000 farmers across the district.

(Inputs taken from PIB)