Alwar: Union minister of state for agriculture and farmers’ welfare Ramnath Thakur urged farmers to reduce excessive use of chemical fertilisers and adopt organic and natural farming practices, warning that indiscriminate use of chemicals was harming both soil health and human health. He was addressing a farmers’ seminar Wednesday in Bagad Rajput village in Alwar district under the Swasth Mitti, Sashakt Kisan aur Samridh Bharat Abhiyan and Khet Bachao Abhiyan.Thakur said balanced use of fertilisers and greater reliance on organic alternatives could improve crop yields while reducing the need for pesticides. He cited Punjab and Haryana as examples where excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides has been linked to rising health concerns, including cancer.Thakur said healthy soil and healthy citizens are essential to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He noted that the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan, launched on June 1, will continue until June 30 with a focus on promoting sustainable agricultural practices. He urged farmers to get their soil tested, obtain Soil Health Cards and use fertilisers only as recommended.Joint director of agriculture P.C. Meena said 100 gram panchayats in Alwar district have been identified in the first phase of the campaign due to excessive use of chemical fertilisers. Awareness drives will be conducted in these areas and later expanded across the district.Officials highlighted that 34 natural farming clusters have already been established in Alwar under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana. Experts from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Naugaanwa, and Shri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, also called on farmers to adopt organic and natural farming methods.
