State governments have started encouraging small farmers to begin organic farming. The two new additions to the fold are Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh.





Uttarakhand Governor K K Paul has asked scientists of central research institutions in the state to come up with ways to encourage small farmers to begin organic farming.

Paul made these suggestions to the scientists during his his visit to Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH) and Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Mukteshwar to study the possibilities of benefiting local farming and animal husbandry through these central research institutions.

He said Uttarakhand was highly suited for horticulture due to its climate and biodiversity. He obtained detailed information from scientists at both the institutions regarding their role in developing horticulture and animal husbandry in Uttarakhand.

Focus should be turned on research to develop good species of apples and similar fruits so that fruit growers could get profits, he told chief scientist of CITH B L Atri. Latest species would have to be promoted as far as floriculture and horticulture is concerned to make it commercially beneficial for farmers, he said.

For this, training camps would have to be organised for farmers from time to time, he added. Community radio centres, local TV channels and newspapers would have to be used to give regular useful information to farmers, the Governor said. He said walnut can be a good item to promote in the state and saplings of good species of walnuts should be made available to farmers through a nursery.

Similarly Chhattisgarh government is also planning boost in organic farming.

“We will prepare a roadmap for the promotion of organic farming, which will include a time-bound strategy to expand this kind of farming across the state. The road map will be prepared within six months,” state Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal has said.

Keeping in view that the state has a huge potential for organic farming, the state government has already launched ‘Organic Farming Mission’, he said. Under the mission, technical and economic assistance is being extended to farmers to take up the practice of organic farming based on geographical condition, climate and soil quality in each district.

He further said the aim of the agriculture scientists will not be fulfilled until they take their researches and innovation to the fields. Scientists have to reach out to farmers to explain the benefits of organic farming. The Minister also informed that the government target is to develop the Naxal-affected Dantewada district as an organic farming district.

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