DHARWAD: Natural farming expert Subhash Palekar has urged the State Government to give importance to natural farming as in Maharashtra.

Participating in a `Meet the Press' programme organised by the Dharwad Media Club, Mr. Palekar said that the Maharashtra Government was encouraging natural farming in the State, and several farmers were successfully implementing it.

The Karnataka Government too should take similar steps in the interest of farmers, he said.

If no such encouragement was given, the farmers would continue with chemical and organic farming, and they would continue to get exploited, he said.

The State Government was planning to implement a new agriculture policy, which should give priority to natural farming, he said.

Mr. Palekar said he had already held discussions with Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and Agriculture Minister Bandeppa Kashempur regarding the new agriculture policy. The State Government had responded positively, he added.

He expressed concern over efforts to propagate chemical and organic farming, which, he said, could make the land barren and also affect the ecological balance.

Workshop begins

A three-day workshop on "Natural Farming with Zero Capital" got under way on Saturday.

It has been organised under the auspices of Dharwad Zilla Naisargika Krishi Vedike, Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), Dharwad Zilla Panchayat and Dharwad Media Club.

After felicitating Mr. Palekar, former Minister S.R. More called upon farmers to adopt natural farming. Owing to the extensive use of chemical pesticides in modern-day farming, the cost of cultivation was high and farmers were forced to commit suicide. Similarly, organic farming was also expensive.

Twin advantage

The natural farming not only reduced expenditure involved in cultivation but also increased the yield, he sad.

Commenting on the book on natural farming "Raitare Badukalu Kaliyiri" written by journalist Chamaraj Sawadi, which was released on the occasion, he said the book explained the techniques of natural farming in a simple language.

Earlier inaugurating the three-day workshop by watering a plant, MLA Vinay Kulkarni said, "Profuse use of chemical fertilizers has led to several problems. At least now, farmers should realise their mistake and go back to the indigenous methods."

MLC Basavaraj Bommai, urged the State Government to start a training centre on natural farming in Dharwad.

In his introduction, journalist Chamaraj Sawadi threw light on the potential of natural farming.

HDMC Joint Commissioner K.H. Kakanur and Dharwad Media Club president Ganesh Kadam were present on the occasion.

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