Naik urges farmers to revert to traditional organic farming

NASHIK: Union minister of state for health and family welfare Shripad Naik on Friday urged farmers to revert to traditional organic farming to avoid disadvantages arising out of chemical fertilisers.
Addressing farmers at the inauguration of an agricultural exhibition, organised by Shree Swami Samarth Agricultural Development and Research Charitable Trust, Naik said, "Earlier, farming was done traditionally, but we have forgotten this and adopted chemical fertilisers to increase productivity and earn money.But we have only invited diseases due to this kind of farming. There is a need to strengthen the knowledge of our traditional farming and focus on organic farming to create a healthy society."
Naik urged farmers to focus on growing medicinal plants as "the legacy" of the country.
The four-day agricultural exhibition got underway from Friday. Around 300 stalls have been put up at the exhibition at the Dongre Hostel grounds, along Gangapur Road in Nashik. Various agri implements like solar pumps, farm pumps, drip irrigation mechanisms, potato harvest machines and other new technology pertaining to agriculture have been put on display.
Agricultural and revenue minister of state Eknath Khadse said that the state government has adopted a policy of promoting organic farming in Maharashtra to overcome the disadvantages of chemical fertilisers. "Funds will be provided to farmers if they engage in organic farming. We are planning to promote organic farming through groups," Khadse said.
"Farmers will not commit suicide and they do not need government grants if the government makes efforts to offer them better prices for agricultural produce, relaxes export restrictions on certain commodities and promotes the export of commodities," said Annasaheb More of Shree Swami Samarth Agricultural Development and Research Charitable Trust.
"Today, all major rivers in the country are polluted, as effluents and others things are flowing into these. This polluted water, used for farming, causes diseases. We need to focus on making our rivers pollution free and provide pure water," More said.