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Prime Minister virtually attends Prakrutik Krushi Sammelan at Surat

The natural farming model of Surat district has the potential to become the farming model for the entire country: Prime Minister

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Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi:

• Natural farming is the service of the earth and Gaumata,
  the environment-nature
• The villages of Surat district and its vigilant farmers have proved that villages can not only bring change, but can also lead the change

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Gujarat will be the role model of natural farming in India: Governor Acharya Devvrat

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Governor guides farmers to adopt natural farming for the upliftment of agriculture and farmers as well as the economic prosperity of the country

Natural farming has become inevitable to keep the next generation healthy and fit: Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel

The farmers of Surat district will be a guide for the farmers of the entire state and the country

75 farmers each from 556 gram panchayats of 693 villages of Surat district committed to natural farming

Farmers of Surat district became an inspiration in the entire state by adopting natural farming

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Gandhinagar, Sunday: In a virtual address to the ‘Natural Farming Conclave’ held at Surat, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said that a section of the country believed that bringing change in the villages was not easy, but the success of the Digital India Mission has shattered this belief.

In the same way, the villages of Surat district and the awakened farmers have proved that the villages can not only bring change, but can also lead the change. Stating that natural farming is a service to the earth and Gaumata, the environment-nature, the Prime Minister called for natural farming to be an instrument for the quality of land, its productivity and protection.

He also said that during Azadi ka Amrit kaal, he has planned to lead on various models including natural farming, sustainable development and lifestyle, which will be the basis of major changes in the time to come. With the spirit of ‘Sauna Saath and Sauna Vikas’, the basis of progress and speed of the country during Azadi ka amrit kaal is the spirit of ‘Sauno Prayas’, which is leading the development journey of the country.

The well-organized Surat district administration has taken the initiative to make natural farming a mass movement which has the potential to be a role model not only for Gujarat but for the entire country. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that Surat, which is shining globally with the brilliance of diamond industry, will now lead the country in the field of natural farming as well, when a total of 41,700 farmers from 556 gram panchayats of 693 villages of Surat district have taken a step towards a new chapter of non-toxic agriculture by adopting natural farming. Aware administrators of Surat, people’s representatives formed committees at village, taluka and district level, did micro planning at root level, organized uninterrupted guidance, training and series of workshops of agricultural experts and trainers, the result of which is front all, and Surat proved that success is sure to be achieved if determination is made with strong will power to achieve the goal. Prime Minister further congratulated Surat’s administrators for this achievement and success.

Stating that human life and health, society and our diet are based on agricultural system, the Prime Minister added that India has always been an agrarian country by nature and culture. We all have a shared responsibility to keep Mother Earth free of toxins and quality. The farmer who does natural farming is serving Mother Earth. Along with the protection of nature and environment, Gaumata will also be protected. Natural farming, along with happiness, also embodies the spirit of ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhino’. While discussions about clean food take place around the world today, India has been leading the way for centuries now. “Our scriptures also describe the glory of traditional nature-based agriculture,” he said.

Noting that the popularity of chemical free agricultural products in the world is increasing day by day, the Prime Minister said that continuous efforts have been made by the Central Government for the last eight years to make more and more farmers in the country aware of natural farming. He lauded the Governor of Gujarat in this regard and said that Acharya Devvratji himself have been doing natural farming and has successfully conveyed its wonderful results to the common farmers. With the cooperation of the state government and the noble efforts of the Governor, the campaign of natural farming has reached the villages.

The Prime Minister has linked natural farming with the ‘Namami Gange Project’ and has also set up a system for certification of natural farming products so that farmers doing natural farming can get higher prices. This certification of natural farming has ensured fetching good prices to the farmers when the produce is exported abroad, he said. He urged the scientists, voluntary organizations, NGOs to come forward and make efforts for how to make the farmers stronger.

Governor Acharya Devvrat

Addressing the Natural Farming Conclave organized by Surat District Administration on the occasion of Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav, Governor of Gujarat Shri Acharya Devvart said that Gujarat State will become a role model in the field of agriculture in the country.

On this occasion, the Governor instructed the farmers to adopt natural farming for the upliftment of agriculture and farmers as well as for the economic prosperity of the country. He said that it was the need of the hour to adopt natural farming in the form of green revolution to meet the food needs of the country after independence. The agricultural scientists of the country did an admirable job for this, which made the country food sector self-sufficient. But now the ill effects of chemical agriculture are coming to the forefront.

“Today, the whole world is plagued by global warming,” he said. Experts believe that chemical and organic agriculture contributes as much as 24% to the problem of global warming. Chemical agriculture has polluted water, land and the environment. The indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides is making the land barren. Agricultural cost is rising and production is declining day by day. On the whole, the economic condition of farmers is deteriorating. People are suffering from incurable diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes by consuming contaminated food produced from chemical agriculture. He said that the best way to get rid of the ill effects of chemical agriculture is natural farming.

Describing natural farming as the demand of the day, governor said that one gram of dung of a native cow contains 300 crore micro-organisms. Gaumutra is a storehouse of minerals. Indigenous natural fertilizer made from a mixture of cow dung, cow urine, gram flour, jaggery and clay are very beneficial for natural farming. Its use promotes the growth of micro-organisms and earthworms in the soil and naturally increases the fertility of the soil. Covering the soil with agricultural residues in natural farming, the Governor said that mulching protects the soil against high temperatures. The soil retains moisture. This not only reduces water consumption but also provides an environment for friendly creatures like earthworms to work during the day. On this occasion, the Governor explained the principles of natural farming such as Bijamrut, Jivamrut, Achadaan, Vapsa and mixed crop with examples. Organic farming is a very different method from natural farming. Stating that organic farming is not more beneficial for the farmers, the Governor added that natural farming is a very simple and low yielding farming method for the farmers which protects the environment and aids land and water conservation.

Indigenous cows are bred. People get healthier food and agricultural costs are reduced. Receiving a fair price for natural farming products is beneficial for farmers. The Governor advocated for natural farming to make farmers and agriculture self-reliant and urged more and more farmers to engage in natural farming. The Governor also congratulated the district administration for special planning on the occasion of Natural Farming Conclave.

Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel

Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel said that instead of chemical farming, there is now an alternative called natural farming, so every farmer of Gujarat can indulge into doing non-toxic farming. Natural farming will reduce the cost of agriculture, provide healthy food and protect the environment. He further said that on the occasion of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has called upon 75 farmers in each village of the country to commit to natural farming, which the state government is committed to promote in the state.

During Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, we have to learn from the past and pave the way for a golden future, prepare the country for a new future by facing challenges keeping in view the needs of the future.

The system of back to basic has started all over the world. Diseases that used to be seen in the age group of 60-65 years are now being seen in the youth. The whole world is experiencing the effects of a changing climate. At the root of this problem is our food cooked by chemicals. Against which the Chief Minister had expressed a clear view that, it is essential to sustain agriculture by adopting and equipping natural farming.

The Chief Minister further said that Governor Shri Acharya Devvrat is the father of natural farming, with his inspiration millions of farmers have adopted natural farming. While the Governor is constantly guiding the farmers of Gujarat in this regard, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given him the unique title of ‘Brand Ambassador of Natural Farming’. He appealed to every farmer present here to resolve to protect the country’s soil from toxic chemicals and to involve other farmers in the campaign.

Mentioning that Dang district of the state has been declared as a district based on natural farming, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that in the coming days more and more farmers will join natural farming under the guidance of the Prime Minister and the Governor and India, once known as ‘Sone Ki Chidiya’ will lead the way of prosperity by adopting natural farming.

On this occasion, Agriculture Minister Shri Raghavji Patel said that at a time when the prevalence of natural farming is increasing in the state, several steps have been taken by the state government including assistance for the upkeep of cows and formation of a natural farming board to enable farmers to adopt this farming. While natural farming will play an important role in doubling the income of farmers, a large number of people are adopting natural farming in Surat district for which they congratulated the district administration.

On this occasion, everyone watched the video film of the work done under the natural farming campaign in Surat district under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

On this occasion, farmers and Sarpanches doing natural farming were honoured by the Governor and Chief Minister. One thousand desi cows will be given free of cost to the needy farmers by Panjrapol of Surat for which Trustee Shri Nayan Bharatia was honoured.

The Governor opened an exhibition cum sale stall of farm produce produced by natural farming. On this occasion, the Chief Minister and the Governor visited the stall.

On this occasion Union Minister of State for Railways and Textiles Smt. Darshana Jardosh, Minister in charge of Surat District and Minister of Finance and Energy Shri Kanu Desai, Minister of State for Agriculture and Energy Shri Mukesh Patel, Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Harsh Sanghavi, Navsari MP Shri CR Patil, Mayor Smt. Hemali Boghawala, Additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture Department Mrs. Sunaina Tomar, District Collector Shri Aayush Oak, District Development Officer Shri D S Gadhvi, Director of Agriculture Shri S.J. Solanki, ATMA Project Director Shri Prakash Rabari, Retired ATMA Director Shri B V Barot, Joint Director of Agriculture Shri Kamlesh Patel, Surat ATMA Project Director Shri Nitin Gamit, District Agriculture officer Shri Satish Gamit, Deputy Director of Horticulture Shri Nikunj Patel, Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry Shri Kirit Modi, Deputy Director of Agriculture (Extension) Shri C R Patel, officers and employees of Agriculture and ATMA Project and a large number of farmers were present.

Source: Information Department, Gujarat