CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Bhopal: Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while launching the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan from village Ramasia in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district, gave a clear message to farmers that if the soil is saved, farming will survive, farmers will become stronger and the country will prosper. He called for balanced use of fertilisers, soil testing, Soil Health Cards, natural farming, water conservation and scientific agricultural practices.
Launching the campaign, which will be conducted across the country, Chouhan said the earth is our mother and protecting its health is everyone’s responsibility. He appealed to farmers not to use chemical fertilisers and pesticides indiscriminately, but to apply fertilisers only as needed on the basis of soil testing. He said excessive chemical use reduces soil fertility and destroys beneficial microorganisms present in it, directly affecting production and the cost of cultivation.
Chouhan said the Khet Bachao Abhiyan is not merely a government programme but a national resolve to protect Mother Earth. Under the campaign, agricultural scientists, experts from agricultural universities, officials of Krishi Vigyan Kendras, agriculture department teams and public representatives will go from village to village to spread awareness among farmers. Farmers will be taught soil testing, balanced nutrient management, natural farming, modern sowing techniques, water conservation and improved methods of cultivation.
He said every farmer must have a Soil Health Card so that fertilisers are used according to the needs of the land. This will reduce cultivation costs, increase production and keep the soil fertile for a long time. Chouhan made it clear that while the government is making fertilisers available to farmers at subsidised rates, that does not mean they should be used in excess. Using fertilisers in the right quantity is the key to sustainable farming, he said.
Chouhan said making agriculture profitable is a priority of the Central government. He said special demonstrations will be held in the region for soybean, paddy and pulse crops. Farmers will be taught improved seeds, scientific sowing, modern techniques such as laser levellers and water-saving farming methods. Regular training programmes will also be conducted with the help of Krishi Vigyan Kendras and expert institutions.
The Union minister also linked women’s empowerment with the campaign. He said women will be connected with employment, income enhancement and self-employment through self-help groups. Eligible women will be linked to groups and provided training, financial support and opportunities to start small businesses so that they can become self-reliant and increase family income.
Speaking about youth, Chouhan said guidance and preparation opportunities for them will also be expanded. He said rural development is not limited to roads, housing and basic facilities, but it is equally important to create opportunities for employment, income and self-reliance in villages.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the campaign that began from Ramasia village would go on to become a major people’s movement through public participation. He directed officials to regularly visit villages, provide technical assistance to farmers and implement this resolve to save farming on the ground. He appealed to farmers, women and youth to actively participate in development campaigns, saying prosperous villages, empowered farmers, self-reliant women and a bright future can be built only through joint efforts of the government and society.
The Union minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very visionary and thinks far ahead. “This Mother Earth is not only for us, but also for future generations. Its condition should not become such that it refuses to produce food for the generations to come. Therefore, we will speak about saving the soil and using balanced fertilisers according to the requirement of the elements in the earth,” he said.
He added that a campaign would also be run against fake pesticides and fertilisers. During this drive, farmers will also be informed about which crops and seeds would be suitable according to the local agro-climatic conditions, what kind of agricultural system should be adopted, seed treatment and other related aspects. He said green manure is also essential to save the earth, and information about that will be provided as well. Benefits of various schemes of the Central and state governments will also be extended across the country under this programme.
A large number of farmers, agricultural scientists, experts from Krishi Vigyan Kendras, public representatives and administrative officers were present at the programme. Nutrition kits were also distributed to malnourished children on the occasion.
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