Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat said on Tuesday that chemical-based farming is having a serious impact on public health, and that natural farming represents an effective alternative to safeguard future generations.
Speaking at the inauguration of a one-day Natural Farming Conference organised at the College of Agriculture in Pune, he suggested that in the future, every family will need a farmer practising natural farming more than they will need a family doctor. Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne and Agriculture Department Principal Secretary Vikaschandra Rastogi were also present at the event.
The governor underscored that, according to a United Nations report, chemical farming may lead to severe consequences in the future. He elaborated: "Microorganisms in the soil transfer nutrients to plants, but chemical farming destroys these microbes, altering soil texture and reducing nutrients in food. Nitrogen in urea generates nitrous oxide, resulting in increasing cases of cancer. Natural farming can provide freedom from these issues."
He noted that chemical farming practices originated in Western countries, and Indian soil once contained about 1.5 per cent organic carbon, which has now dropped to less than 0.5 per cent, increasing the risk of the soil becoming barren. He also highlighted that chemical farming is expensive, often leading farmers into debt.
Devvrat outlined that for natural farming, the selection of appropriate seeds, soil mulching, and crop diversification are key components. He explained the role of earthworms used in natural farming, which can drill soil up to 10 feet deep, allowing rainwater to percolate. He added that native species of earthworms produce 40,000 to 50,000 offspring in their lifetime, and at the end of their lifecycle, they enrich the soil with 17 essential nutrients.
He concluded by stressing the importance of reviving traditional seed varieties, which farmers used to preserve. If these are not brought back, dependence on foreign seeds will increase, leading to market manipulation. Therefore, agricultural universities must conduct more research on traditional varieties to make them resistant to climate change and diseases, he advised.
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