Gujarat plans sales hubs to promote natural farming produce

Gandhinagar: State agriculture minister Jitu Vaghani said on Monday that sales centres will be opened at govt offices, collectorates and cooperative societies, where natural farming produce will be sold. The minister said the move is being considered to promote natural farming across the state.

Vaghani launched the statewide ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ from Shertha in Gandhinagar, where he stressed the need for farmers to reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers and shift towards natural farming. The campaign will run across the state from June 1 to June 30, during which agricultural scientists, officials, and agriculture department staff will visit villages to promote natural farming.

“The minister directed collectors and other senior officials present at the programme to begin sales centres for natural farming vegetables, grains, and fruits twice a week at collector offices, district panchayat offices, mamlatdar offices, and milk unions. He also urged senior officials to start natural farming experiments in their bungalow premises to inspire others,” the statement quoted Vaghani as saying.

Speaking at the event, Vaghani said excessive use of chemical fertilisers like DAP and urea, along with pesticides, is gradually degrading soil fertility. He said cases of incurable diseases like cancer are rising, largely due to chemicals in people’s diet.

The minister urged villagers to adopt natural farming on at least 25% of their land initially. Once its benefits are realised, the practice can gradually be expanded, he said.

An official statement said that 8 lakh farmers in Gujarat have adopted natural farming so far, and the state govt aims to bring an additional 5 lakh farmers into the fold this year. The agriculture department has so far conducted training sessions for around 20 lakh farmers on natural farming methods.