Natural Farming in the Ganga Basin

In the middle of a big farmers’ gathering in Bulandshahar, a hand rose, enthusiastically, to say a few words on Natural Farming

- G ASOK KUMAR

His confident voice echoed: “Not just in this life, but if there are 7 more lives to come, I will not shy away from saying that Natural Farming is the best way of growing crops. It is a farmer’s great relief.” The 48-year-old Sanjeev Kumar, a farmer from Bulandshahar, who completely moved to “chemical-free” farming in 2012 is now profiting from his healthy yield of sugarcane, turmeric, millets etc. many more times than ever before. He delightfully informs the lentering of his new home, giving a glimpse of a happy and prosperous life he is leading.

The villages abound with such cases: Ajay Pal Singh Pawar from Uttarakhand left his Merchant Navy job to grow traditional herbs like Rosemary, Lavender, Oregano, Himalayan Thyme naturally, now with a team of 6000 farmers spanning 3 districts. Padmashree Bharat Bhushan Tyagi moved to Natural Farming because of low yield otherwise. Ved Vyas Chaudhary sows Mangoes and Tomatoes, among others, and is a fine ambassador of ‘low cost, more profit through Natural Farming’ mantra. One could, joyously, add to this list of farmers who have willfully moved to Natural Farming for good and are never short of praises for their ancestral and traditional agricultural wisdom.

Why has suddenly Natural Farming acquired such significance? About a year ago, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister pitched Natural Farming as “a path to Atma Nirbharta”. UNGA has declared 2023 as International Year of Millets. Millets is produced naturally in several parts of the country and has been a part of India’s traditional healthy eating practices.