Organic farming should be promoted like Green Revolution: Minister

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh on February 15, 2018, said small and marginal farmers, who are unable to meet agriculture expenditure, can switch over to organic farming as it is cost-effective and profitable. He was  addressing a gathering of ICAR- Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI) representatives, government officials and other stakeholders at Raj Niwas in Port Blair, Andaman Nicobar Islands.

Radha Mohan said he was pleased to discuss important aspects of organic farming with the stakeholders on the Island. He said that Organic farming is highly favourable in dry and lowly-irrigated regions, hilly states, north-eastern states and islands. In fact, Sikkim has been declared 100% organic state and many states are now following its footsteps. The Minister said that his aim is to make Andaman Nicobar Islands an organic island, according to a PIB release.

The Minister said that Andaman and Nicobar Island has been adopting organic farming at a smallscale (321 hectares) though it has immense potential and is favourably placed for organic farming due to less use of chemical fertilizers and abundant species. He said that Organic soybean occupies the top slot in organic exports with 70% followed by foodgrains and Bajra at 6% and chemical fertilizer at 5%. Apart from them, organic spices, tea and cloth etc. also have immense potential.

The Minister asserted that Organic farming should be promoted with the same spirit as Green Revolution. He said that the country should progress to be an organic nation and fulfil the Prime Minister’s vision of being a chemical-free country.