Karnataka - Hassan   

Reaching the benefits of natural farming to agriculturists

Staff Correspondent

Workshop on `zero-investment farming method' from July 24

HASSAN: The Rajya Naisargika Krishi Aandolana Vedike (RNKAV), a Mysore-based forum, formed for spreading awareness among farmers on the importance of natural farming, will hold a five-day State-level workshop on "zero-investment farming method" from July 24 at Kalabhavan in Hassan.

Addressing presspersons here on Monday, convener of the forum Swami Anand said agriculture expert Subhash Paalekar, who had achieved success by adopting natural farming methods and was keen on propagating them, would participate and guide the farmers in the workshop. More than 50,000 farmers had opted for natural farming in the State.

Awareness

To create awareness among farmers about the advantages of "zero-investment farming", the forum was conducting these workshops, he said. Over 1,500 farmers were expected participate in the workshop. They would be provided boarding and lodging facilities, he added. He said farmers would be educated on the importance of cow dung in natural farming as it was not merely fertilizer but also had everything needed for keeping the soil fertile.

As much as 10 kg of cow dung was enough to get good yield. "Gomutra" (cow's urine) also helped protect crop from pests, he said. Natural farming was a means to get a good yield without using hybrid seeds, chemical fertilizer and pesticide. This also helped in keeping the environment poison free, he added.

Answer to crisis

Investment-less natural farming was an answer to the agrarian crisis which had forced farmers to commit suicide, he said.

Referring to vermi-compost being propagated by various agriculture experts, Mr.

Swami Anand said vermi-compost was the "most dangerous" and it was an attempt by a few to obliterate native farming.

Mr. Swami Anand said it was important for the Government to create awareness among farmers about natural farming.

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